1. What is Power BI? Power Bl is a business intelligence (BI) and data visualization tool developed by Microsoft that allows users to connect, transform, visualize, and share data insights. It helps businesses make data-driven decisions by turing raw data into interactive reports and dashboards. Key Feature: v Connect to various data sources (SQL, Excel, APIs, etc.) v Clean and transform data using Power Query ¥ Create interactive reports and dashboards v Use DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) for calculations V Share reports securely via Power BI Service v Perform real-time data analytics 2. Why is Power BI Important? * Data Visualization — Converts complex data into easy-to-understand visuals. + Self-Service Bl No deep coding knowledge is required to create reports. * Integration — Works seamlessly with Excel, SQL Server, Azure, Google Analytics, etc. + Al-Powered Insights ~ Uses Al-driven analytics for predictive analysis. * Cloud & On-Premise Support — Publish reports on the cloud (Power Bl Service) or keep them on-premises (Power Bl Report Server). + Scalability — Works for individuals, small teams, and enterprises. 3. Power BI Components Power BI consists of several core components: Component Description Power Bl Desktop Create and design reports and dashboards. Power Bl Service Publish, share, and collaborate on reports online. Power BI Mobile View reports on mobile devices.Power BI Gateway Connect on-premises data sources to the cloud, Power BI Report Builder _| Design paginated (pixel-perfect) reports. Power BI Embedded Embed Power Bl reports into applications. 4. Power BI Workflow 1. Connect - Import data from databases, Excel, APIs, ete. 2. Transform — Clean, shape, and model data using Power Query. 3. Model — Define relationships, create measures & calculated columns. 4. Visualize — Build interactive charts, graphs, and dashboards. 5. Share — Publish reports to Power BI Service or embed them 5. Power BI Data Sources Power BI supports multiple data sources, including Databases: SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Azure SQL Cloud Services: Azure, Google Analytics, Salesforce, SharePoint Files: Excel, CSV, JSON, XML, PDF APIs: REST API, Web Services Online Services: PowerApps, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, GitHub ‘To connect data, go to Home —- Get Data —- Select Data Source. 6. Power Query (Data Transformation) Power Query helps clean and transform data before visualization. Common Transformations: V Remove duplicates V Replace values Split & merge columns V Change data types V Unpivot & pivot columns V Add conditional columnsSteps to use Power Query: (AJLoad Data + Transform Data (Power Query Editor) (2\Apply changes and Load into Power BI 7. Data Modeling in Power BI ‘A data model in Power Bl consists of tables, relationships, and calculations. Best Practices: v Use Star Schema for better performance. v Define Primary Key - Foreign Key relationships. V Use fact and dimension tables for structured analysis. V Hide unnecessary columns to improve report speed. Relationship Types: © One-to-Many (1 © Many-to-Many (M: 1) — Common in fact & dimension tables. !) — Use carefully to avoid performance issues. 8. DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) DAX is a formula language used to create calculated columns, measures, and tables. Basic DAX Functions: Function Description SUM), Adds all values in a column. AVERAGE() Returns the average of values in a column. COUNT() Counts rows with numeric values. DISTINCTCOUNT() Counts unique values. IF) Returns values based on a condition. SWITCH() Similar to CASE in SQL. FILTER() Returns a subset of a table.CALCULATE() Modifies fitter context for a calculation, ALLO) Ignore existing filters. RELATED() Fetches values from a related table. Example DAX Formula: TotalSales = SUM(Sales[/Amount]) AvgSalesPerProduct = AVERAGE (Sales[Amount]) 9. Power BI Visualizations Power BI provides built-in visualizations: Bar Chart Line Chart Pie Chart Table & Matrix KPI Cards Maps (Filled Map, ArcGIS) TreeMap Waterfall Chart Gauge Chart Scatter Plot Custom Visuals (Merketplace) Tips for Effective Visualization: V Use the right chart type for the data V Avoid clutter and too many colors Use slicers and filters for interactivity V Leverage drill-through and tooltips for deeper insights.10. Filters & Slicers Filters and slicers allow users to interact with data dynamically. Type Usage Report-Level Filters Apply to the entire report Page-Level Filters Apply to a specific page. Visual-Level Filters Apply to a single visual. Slicers Allow users to filter data interactively. 11. Power BI Service (Publishing & Sharing) Alter creating reports in Power BI Desktop, publish them to Power Bl Service. * Steps to Publist (A)Click Publish in Power Bl Desktop. (2)\Select your Power BI workspace. (gjshare reports via Power BI Service. * Sharing Options: V Share directly with users. Embed in SharePoint, Teams, or Web Apps. V Schedule automatic refresh for updated data. V Enable row-level security (RLS) for user-specific data access. 12. Power BI Performance Optimization Power BI performance tuning ensures faster report loading. Reduce Dataset Size — Remove unnecessary columns and rows. Optimize DAX Formulas — Avoid complex calculations in visuals. Ise Aggregations — Pre-aggregate data for better speed. Limit Visuals on a Page - Too many visuals slow down reports. Use DirectQuery for Large Data ~ Instead of Import mode. Optimize Relationships — Avoid bi-directional filtering when unnecessary.13. Power BI Best Practices V Keep dashboards simple and user-friendly. V Use consistent color schemes and labels. V Minimize use of calculated columns — use measures instead. Schedule automatic data refresh for up-to-date reports. V Implement Row-Level Security (RLS) for controlled access. V Document DAX formulas and data transformations. Happy Learning!