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Power BI is Microsoft’s cloud-based data analytics and reporting service. It offers a collection of tools that help you draw insights from large datasets \u2014 and create visualizations to share that data with others. Power BI is easy to use, enabling anyone to quickly generate reports and dashboards from data stored in spreadsheets or database software.<\/p>\n
A dashboard is a single page (or canvas) used to present the most important metrics from various reports or datasets. They’re ideal for monitoring dynamic data and key trends in real-time.<\/p>\n
In contrast, a report is more detailed, often containing multiple pages, and usually based on a single dataset.<\/p>\n
Power BI reports are interactive. People viewing the report (referred to as “report consumers” by Microsoft) can filter, highlight, and slice the information and take a closer look at the data by inspecting specific tables, fields, and values.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you’ve created a report in Power BI, you can pin your data visualizations to a dashboard.<\/p>\n
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There has recently been a huge growth in demand for data visualization and reporting, as organizations have realized that it’s essential for business intelligence and data-driven decision making.<\/p>\n
Transforming the way data looks (and making sure it’s accessible and understandable) is one of the biggest challenges for businesses today.<\/p>\n
Here I’ll show you how to start transforming your raw data into engaging reports, without any data analysis or design skills.<\/p>\n
If you’re not already using it, sign up for Power BI<\/a> from Microsoft.<\/p>\n In the following example, I’m using a Power BI sales and marketing file (PBIX)\u00a0 from Microsoft’s homepage.<\/a><\/p>\n From inside the Power BI home screen, click\u00a0Get Data<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Choose from the list or click\u00a0More<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You can use various data sources for Power BI reports including Excel and CSV files, online services like Facebook and Adobe, or a database such as Oracle.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Power-BI-Get-Data.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Two menus appear: Visualizations<\/strong> and Fields<\/strong>. A visualization (also known simply as a visual<\/strong>) is the chart, graph, or diagram that presents insights from your dataset. Fields<\/strong> are the tables and folders containing the data you want to present.<\/p>\n For my first visualization, I will create a simple Time Series Chart<\/strong> by clicking on\u00a0<\/span>Sales Fact <\/strong>and selecting Sum of Revenues <\/strong>from the dropdown menu.<\/p>\n <\/strong>You can move this, or any other KPI, by dragging and dropping it to Values<\/strong> under the visualizations side menu.<\/p>\n In addition, you must add the dates under Axis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Go to Date <\/strong>and then, via the dropdown menu, move the date field to Axis.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can now resize and move the chart.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/4.-Select-Axis-Power-BI.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Under the Visualizations<\/strong> submenu, you can choose from different diagram styles.<\/p>\n Note that, when the original file is updated, the data will be automatically updated in Power BI\u00a0\u2014 there’s no need to connect the data source again.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Click on an area of blank space on the report page so that none of your graphs are selected.<\/p>\n Under Visualizations<\/strong>, click on Map. <\/strong>Under Geo, <\/strong>select State <\/strong>and drag and drop it to Location.<\/strong><\/p>\n From SalesFact, <\/strong>select a KPI. Here I’ve added Sales $. <\/strong>Drag and drop it to Tooltips.<\/strong><\/p>\n Go to Format <\/strong>and then go to\u00a0Heat map <\/strong>and slide it to On.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/7.-Heat-map-Power-BI-1.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n One of the strengths of Power BI is that complex data can be boiled down to simple visualizations. Cards and advanced tables are great tools to help you do this.<\/p>\n Here I’ve created a multi-row card that shows sales, the number of products sold, and the total revenue for each product category.<\/p>\n Under SalesFact<\/strong>, search for Sales $<\/strong>, Sum of Revenue<\/strong> and Total Units<\/strong>. Tick all of them or drag and drop them to Fields<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In the Product<\/strong> sub-menu, search for Category<\/strong> and move it to Fields<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sales-categories-Power-BI-report.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Go to the Format<\/strong> pane and change the colors and format. For the multi-row card, I’ve added a simple background to highlight each product category.<\/p>\n Under Format,<\/strong> you can customize the design to match your company branding by changing the color, font, and spacing.<\/p>\n If you want a bar chart instead of a simple line chart, just click on your preferred graph\/diagram style.<\/p>\n In the example here, I’ve chosen a line and stacked column chart and added another field under Line values<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Formatting-bar-chart-Power-BI-report.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n If you want to share PBIX files with colleagues or clients, they will also need a\u00a0Power BI\u00a0<\/a>account.<\/p>\n Alternatively, go to File <\/strong>>Export to. <\/strong>Here you can publish your Power BI report as a PDF or other format.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Got data in Excel files but want to use a different visualization and reporting tool such as Google Data Studio?<\/p>\nStep 2: Create a chart in Power BI<\/h4>\n
Step 3: Add a map to your Power BI report<\/h4>\n
Step 4: Add data in cards and tables<\/h4>\n
Step 5: Change the formatting of your visualization<\/h4>\n
Step 6: Export your report<\/h4>\n
Want to create reports with other software?<\/h4>\n