Microsoft Power BI - Introduction

Accreditation

ESS Certificate

Course Duration

2 Days

Valid for

Never expires

Course Information

This Power BI Introduction course takes a comprehensive look at the fundamentals of analysing data. It includes a balanced look at the four main components that make up Power BI Desktop: Report view, Data view, Model view, and the Query Editor. It also demonstrates the use of the online Power BI service, where you share your reports.

It looks at authoring tools that enable you to connect to and transform data from a variety of sources, allowing you to produce detailed reports through a range of visualisations, in an interactive and dynamic way.

It also includes a detailed look at formula writing by using M functions in the Query Editor, and DAX functions in Report view. these allow you to take your dashboard visuals to the next level.

The aim of this course is to provide a more complete understanding of the Power BI analysis process, by working with examples that will equip you with the necessary skills to start applying your knowledge straight away.

Microsoft Power BI Pre-Requisites

There are no specific technical pre-requisites for this course, but a familiarity with Excel specifically Pivot Tables, IF Statements, NESTED IF, VLOOKUPs, SUMIF, SUMIFS.  Also an understanding of Relational Database Technologies may be beneficial. The main pre-requisite is to have a basic understanding of your business's need to collect, cleanse, analyse and deliver insights and visualisations of your business data.

Equipment Requirements

To participate in this course, learners must download and install Power BI Desktop before the session. This ensures full access to the tools and features covered during the training.

Power BI Desktop is available as a free download from Microsoft's website.

Microsoft Power BI Learning Objectives

Lesson 1. Getting Started

  • Opening Power BI Desktop
  • The Power BI ecosystem
  • The four views of Power BI
  • Visualisations at a glance

Lesson 2. Importing Files

  • The process of importing files
  • Importing an Excel file
  • Importing a CSV file
  • Importing a database
  • Connect to an SQL server database
  • Import vs. Direct Query
  • Importing web data
  • Importing a folder of files
  • Managing file connections

Lesson 3. Shape Data in the Query Editor

  • The process of shaping data
  • Working with applied steps
  • Managing data types
  • Removing unwanted rows
  • Importing multiple tables
  • Add a custom column
  • Appending tables together
  • Fixing error issues
  • Basic math operations

Lesson 4. The Data Model

  • Table relationships
  • Relationship properties

Lesson 5. Merging Queries

  • Table join kinds
  • Merging tables

Lesson 6. Creating Report Visuals

  • Things to keep in mind
  • Inserting maps
  • Formatting maps
  • Inserting charts
  • Formatting charts
  • Controlling number formats
  • Inserting a table and matrix
  • Inserting cards for KPIs
  • Utilising themes
  • Adding data bars
  • Highlighting key points
  • Filtering reports with slicers
  • Sync slicers across pages
  • Custom web visuals

Lesson 7. Publish and Share Reports

  • Publishing to Power BI service
  • Editing online reports
  • Pinning visuals to the dashboard
  • What is Q&A?
  • Sharing dashboards
  • Get quick insights
  • Exporting reports to PowerPoint
  • Exporting reports as PDF files




Lesson 8. The Power Query Editor

  • Fill data up and down
  • Split column by delimiter
  • Add a conditional column
  • Writing formulas
  • Merging columns

Lesson 9. The M Functions

  • Writing text functions
  • Write an IF function
  • Create a query group

Lesson 10. Pivoting Tables

  • Pivot a table
  • Pivot and append tables
  • Pivot but don’t summarise
  • Unpivot tables
  • Append mismatched headers

Lesson 11. Data Modelling Expanded

  • Creating relationships
  • Mark a calendar as a date table

Lesson 12. Two types of DAX Formulas

  • New columns vs. measures
  • Adding new column calculations
  • The SWITCH function

Lesson 13. Introduction to DAX Measures

  • Common measure functions
  • Insert a SUM
  • Insert a COUNTROWS
  • Insert a DISINCTCOUNT
  • Insert a DIVIDE
  • DAX rules

Lesson 14. The CALCULATE Measure

  • The Syntax of CALCULATE
  • Insert a CALCULATE
  • Things of note

Lesson 15. The SUMX Measure

  • X iterator functions
  • Anatomy of SUMX
  • Insert a SUMX
  • When to use SUMX

Lesson 16. Time Intelligence Measures

  • Importance of a calendar table
  • A special lookup table
  • Insert a TOTALYTD
  • Change financial year end date

Lesson 17. Hierarchies and Groups

  • Create a hierarchy to drill data
  • Compare data in groups

To book this course

Call us on 0115 8970 529 Make a booking enquiry
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Assessment & Certification

Assessment

This Power BI Introduction Course is assessed through hands-on exercises designed to reinforce learning and practical application. Throughout the training, learners will complete interactive tasks, including:

  • Creating and customising reports and dashboards
  • Connecting and transforming data from multiple sources
  • Applying Power BI functions and visualisation tools
  • Gaining real-world experience with guided exercises

These exercises allow participants to practice key skills in a supportive environment, ensuring they are confident in using Power BI for data analysis and reporting.

Certification

Upon successful completion learners will be issued with an Essential Site Skills Power BI - Introduction digital PDF certificate.