Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide - Third Edition: The ultimate beginner's guide to data modeling, visualization, digital storytelling, and more

by Devin Knight, Erin Ostrowsky, Mitchell Pearson

Overview

Bring your data to life with this accessible yet fast-paced introduction to Power BI, now in color. Get With Your Book: PDF Copy, AI Assistant, and Next-Gen Reader Free

Key Features

• Learn faster with practical examples of the latest features of Power BI, including navigator buttons, column-level security, visualizing goals, and more
• Migrate your existing Excel and data analysis skills to Power BI
• Build accurate analytical models, reports, and dashboards, now in color

Book Description

Updated with the latest features and improvements in Power BI, this fast-paced yet comprehensive guide will help you master the core concepts of data visualization quickly. You’ll learn how to install Power BI, design effective data models, and build basic dashboards and visualizations to help you make better business decisions. This new edition will also help you bridge the gap between MS Excel and Power BI. Throughout this book, you’ll learn how to obtain data from a variety of sources and clean it using the Power Query Editor. You’ll also start designing data models to navigate and explore relationships within your data and building DAX formulas to make data easier to work with. Visualizing data is a key element of this book, so there’s an emphasis on helping you get to grips with data visualization styles and enhanced digital storytelling. As you progress, you’ll start building your own dataflows, gain an understanding of the Common Data Model, and automate dataflow refreshes to eradicate data cleaning inefficiency. You’ll learn how to administer your organization's Power BI environment so that deployment can be made seamless, data refreshes can run properly, and security can be fully implemented. By the end of this Power BI book, you’ll know how to get the most out of Power BI for better business intelligence.

What you will learn

• Connect to data sources using import, DirectQuery, and live connection options
• Use Power Query Editor for data transformation and data cleansing processes, and write M and R scripts and dataflows to do the same in the cloud
• Design effective reports with built-in and custom visuals to optimize user experience
• Implement row-level and column-level security in your dashboards
• Administer a Power BI cloud tenant for your organization
• Use built-in AI capabilities to enhance Power BI data transformation techniques
• Deploy your Power BI Desktop files into Power BI Report Server

Who this book is for

This book is for aspiring business intelligence and data professionals with a basic understanding of BI concepts, who want to learn Power BI quickly. Complete beginners with no BI background can also get plenty of useful information from this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781804613498
Publisher:	Packt Publishing
Publication date:	11/25/2022
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	338
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Devin Knight is the President at Pragmatic Works Training. There he determines which courses are created, delivered, and updated for customers, including 60+ Power BI courses. This is the eleventh SQL Server and Business Intelligence book that he has authored. Devin often speaks at conferences such as PASS Summit, Power Platform Community Conference, SQL Saturdays, and Code Camps. Making his home in Jacksonville, FL, Devin is a contributor at the local technology community groups. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of data professionals and sharing practical insights gained through years of hands-on experience. His training content has helped thousands of users around the world better understand and leverage Microsoft's data tools.

Erin Ostrowsky is a data strategist and Power BI consultant who brings storytelling and technical insight together to drive smart decisions. With roots in business journalism and a passion for visual analytics, she has trained and advised teams from mine sites to boardrooms. As a former national trainer for Pragmatic Works and co-author of the Power BI Quick Start Guide, Erin blends communication skills with real-world reporting strategy. She now focuses on helping mining, manufacturing, and construction teams turn their systems and spreadsheets into high-impact dashboards. Whether delivering training, building reports, or architecting solutions, Erin empowers clients to unlock the full value of their data.

Mitchell Pearson has worked as a Data Platform Consultant and Trainer for the last 8 years. Mitchell has authored books on SQL Server, Power BI and the Power Platform. Data Platform experience includes designing and implementing enterprise level Business Intelligence solutions with the Microsoft SQL Server stack (T-SQL, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS), the Power Platform and Microsoft Azure. Mitchell is very active in the community: Running the local Power BI User Group, presenting at user groups locally and virtually, and creating YouTube videos for MitchellSQL

Bradley Schacht is a Principal Program Manager on the Microsoft Fabric product team based in Jacksonville, FL. Bradley is a former consultant, trainer, and has authored 7 other SQL Server, Power BI, and Microsoft Fabric books. As a member of the Microsoft Fabric product team, Bradley works directly with customers to solve some of their most complex data problems, helps shape the future of Microsoft Fabric, and builds content to educate the community about the platform's capabilities. Bradley has presented at international data conferences including the Microsoft Fabric Conference, SQL Bits, and PASS Summit, as well as dozens of community events like SQL Saturdays, Code Camps, and user groups across the country. He is passionate about making complex topics easy to understand.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1. Gaining Data Literacy with Power BI
2. Connecting to Data
3. Data Transformation Strategies
4. Building the Data Model
5. Leveraging DAX
6. Visualizing Data
7. Digital Storytelling with Power BI
8. Using a Cloud Deployment with the Power BI Service
9. Data Cleansing in the Cloud with Dataflows
10. On-Premises Solutions with Power BI Report Server