Course Code: pbidaw
Duration: 140 hours
Prerequisites:

An appreciation of basic statistics and computer applications.

BASIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS

This course requires a current email account, access to a computer connected to the Internet, as well as a PDF Reader. Delegates may be required to read or create documents in Microsoft Word or Excel.

BROWSER REQUIREMENTS

Although this is not a requirement, we recommend the use Microsoft Edge as the Internet browser when accessing the Power BI Service. We have discovered that Microsoft Edge works best when accessing the Microsoft Power BI Service.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Some modules may require additional software and resources and these and other resource requirements will be advised during training. Delegates may require admin rights at unforeseen occasions during the course therefore IT support may be required to be on standby to adjust security and access rights of delegates as needed. 

Overview:

ABOUT THE POWER BI FOR DATA ANALYSTS WORKSHOP

This workshop will discuss the various methods and best practices that are in line with business and technical requirements for Modelling, visualizing, and analysing data with Power BI. The course will also show how to access and process data from a range of data sources including both relational and non-relational data. This course will also explore how to implement proper security standards and policies across the Power BI spectrum including datasets and groups. The course will also discuss how to manage and deploy reports and dashboards for sharing and content distribution. Finally, this course will show how to build paginated reports within the Power BI service and publish them to a workspace for inclusion within Power BI. The course modules have been carefully arranged in chronological order for enhanced understanding and each module may depend on the preceding module.

The audience for this course are professionals who want to learn how to accurately perform data analysis using Power BI, develop reports that visualize data from the data platform technologies that exist on both the cloud and on-premises.

MODE OF COURSE DELIVERY

This course will be based on instructor-led workshops with extensive practical lab sessions. Each module of the course is broken down into manageable tasks designed to guide the learning process through diverse learning activities. Delegates will be exposed to expert training with plenty of practical exercises for every concept covered. The training course will make use of trainer-provided data sets. To make the training relevant and well-aligned, delegates will also be encouraged to bring forward live data sets from their day-to-day work for use in lab sessions. Delegates will also be invited to bring forth any data analysis challenges faced in their daily work for solution synthesis during training.

Course Outline:

MODULE 1: PREPARING DATA IN POWER BI (8 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

This module explores identifying and retrieving data from various data sources. Delegates will also learn the options for connectivity and data storage, and understand the difference and performance implications of connecting directly to data versus importing it into Power BI. 

At the end of this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Identify and retrieve data from different data sources.
  • Understand the connection methods and their performance implications.
  • Optimize query performance.
  • Resolve data import errors.

Module Content

  1. Get data from various data sources.
  2. Optimize performance.
  3. Resolve data errors.

Module Lab

  • Power BI front-end vs. back-end.
  • Types of data connectors.
  • The Power Query Editor.

MODULE 2: CLEAN, TRANSFORM AND LOAD DATA INTO POWER BI (16 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

This module teaches delegates the process of profiling and understanding the condition of the data to be imported into Power BI. They will learn how to identify anomalies, look at the size and shape of their data, and perform the proper data cleaning and transforming steps to prepare the data for loading into the model.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Apply data shape transformations.
  • Enhance the structure of the data.
  • Profile and examine the data.

Module Content

  1. Data shaping.
  2. Enhance the data structure.
  3. Data profiling.

Module Lab 

  • Loading Data.
  • Profile and examine the data.
  • Append queries.
  • Merge and group.

MODULE 3: DATA MODELLING IN POWER BI (12)

Learning Outcomes

This module teaches the fundamental concepts of designing and developing a data model for proper performance and scalability. This module will also help delegates understand and tackle many of the common data modelling issues, including relationships, security, and performance.

At the end of this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Understand the basics of data modelling.
  • Define relationships and their cardinality.
  • Implement Dimensions and Hierarchies.

Module Content

  1. Introduction to data modelling.
  2. Auto-detecting relationships.
  3. Creating and managing relationships.
  4. Dimensions (Fact-Dimension model).
  5. Date hierarchies.

Module Lab

  • Create model relationships.
  • Configure Tables.
  • Review the model interface.
  • Create Quick Measures.

MODULE 4: OPTIMIZING MODEL PERFORMANCE (8 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

In this module, delegates are introduced to steps, processes, concepts, and data modelling best practices necessary to optimize a data model for enterprise-level performance.

At the end of this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of variables.
  • Enhance the data model.
  • Optimize the storage model.
  • Implement aggregations.

Module Content

  1. Optimize the model for performance.
  2. Optimize DirectQuery models.
  3. Create and manage aggregations.

Module Lab

  • Creating aggregations.
  • Managing aggregations.

MODULE 5: CREATING REPORTS (32 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

This Power BI core module introduces delegates to the fundamental concepts and principles of designing and building a report, including selecting the correct visuals, designing a page layout, and applying basic but critical functionality.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Design a report page layout.
  • Select and add effective visualizations.
  • Add basic report functionality.
  • Add report navigation and interactions.
  • Improve report performance.

Module Content

  1. Designing different types of reports in Power BI.
  2. Enhancing a report.
  3. Edit interactions, tooltips, drillthrough.

Module Lab

  • Create a live connection in Power BI Desktop.
  • Exploring and designing different types of reports.
  • Configure visual fields and format properties.
  • Create and configure Sync Slicers.
  • Create a drill through page.
  • Apply conditional formatting.
  • Create and use Bookmarks.

MODULE 6: DAX BASICS & CREATING MEASURES IN POWER BI (20 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

This module introduces delegates to the world of DAX and its true power for enhancing a model. Delegates will learn about aggregations and the concepts of Measures, Calculated Columns and Tables, and Time Intelligent Functions to solve calculation and data analysis challenges.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Understand DAX.
  • Use DAX for simple formulas and expressions.
  • Create calculated tables and measures.
  • Build simple measures.
  • Work with Time Intelligence and Key Performance Indicators.

Module Content

  1. Introduction to DAX.
  2. Calculated columns.
  3. Measures.
  4. CALCULATE & Filtering.
  5. Advanced DAX commands.

Module Lab

  • Create calculated tables.
  • Create calculated columns.
  • Create measures.
  • Use the CALCULATE() function to manipulate filter context.
  • Use Time Intelligence functions.

MODULE 7: CREATING A DASHBOARD (16 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

In this module, delegates will learn how to tell a compelling story through the use of dashboards and the different navigation tools available to provide navigation. Delegates will be introduced to features and functionality and how to enhance dashboards for usability and insights.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Create a Dashboard.
  • Understand real-time Dashboards.
  • Enhance Dashboard usability.

Module Content

  1. Create a dashboard.
  2. Real-time dashboards.
  3. Enhance a dashboard.
  4. Creating and exploring workspaces.

Module Lab

  • Create a dashboard.
  • Pin visuals to a dashboard.
  • Configure a Dashboard tile alert.
  • Use Q&A to create a dashboard tile.
  • Sharing a dashboard to the Power BI service.
  • Dashboard security and permissions.

MODULE 8: ADVANCED DATA ANALYTICS IN POWER BI (20 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

This module helps delegates apply additional features to enhance the report for analytical insights in the data, equipping them with the steps to use the report for actual data analysis. Delegates will also perform advanced analytics using AI visuals on the report for even deeper and meaningful data insights.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Explore statistical summary.
  • Use the Analyze feature.
  • Identify outliers in data.
  • Conduct time-series analysis.
  • Use the AI visuals.
  • Use the Advanced Analytics custom visual.

Module Content

  1. Advanced data analytics.
  2. Data insights through AI visuals.

Module Lab

  • Create animated scatter charts.
  • Use visuals to forecast values.
  • Work with the Decomposition Tree visual.
  • Work with the Key Influencers visual.

MODULE 9: MANAGING DATASETS IN POWER BI (4 HOURS)

Learning Outcomes

In this module delegates will learn the concepts of managing Power BI assets, including datasets and workspaces. Delegates will also publish datasets to the Power BI service, then refresh and secure them.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Create and work with parameters.
  • Manage datasets.
  • Configure dataset refresh.
  • Troubleshoot gateway connectivity.

Module Content

  1. Parameters.
  2. Datasets.

Module Lab

  • Managing datasets.
  • Configuring data refresh.

MODULE 10: M LANGUAGE FUNDAMENTALS (4)

Learning Outcomes

This module introduces delegates to the M language for manipulating data in Power BI.

After completing this module, delegates will be able to:

  • Understand the M language and its basic constructs.
  • Use the M language to perform various functions in Power BI.

Module Content

  1. Understanding the M language.
  2. Values and lists.
  3. Table functions and transformation columns.

Module Lab

  • Using the advanced editor.
  • Table functions.
  • Transformation columns.