Logan's Analytics Bootcamp
Dashboard › Phase 2: Power BI
M2.1

Power BI Orientation and Getting Data

⏱ 4 hours📅 Week 7❓ 3 quiz questions
Phase 2 goal

Build governed, refreshable, interactive program dashboards. Get data in shape with Power Query M, model it as a star schema, calculate it with DAX, present it well, and publish it securely.

🎯 Learning objectives

Tick each one when you can actually do it.

💡 Key concepts

  • Desktop vs. Service: Desktop (Windows app) is where you build: Power Query, model, DAX, report. The Service (web) is where you share: workspaces, refresh, apps, security.
  • Semantic model (formerly "dataset"): tables + relationships + measures. Many reports can share one model.
  • Storage modes: Import (fast, needs refresh), DirectQuery (live, has limitations), Live connection to a shared model.
  • SharePoint sources: Use "SharePoint folder" or "SharePoint Online List" connectors so that scheduled refresh in the Service works without a gateway. Local file paths (C:\...) need an on-premises gateway.
  • Copying queries: You can paste Power Query queries from Excel straight into Power BI's Power Query Editor. It's the same M language.

🛠 Hands-on exercise: First Model

⬇ Practice data for this module
D1 programsProgram dimension (12 rows)CSVXLSX
D2 milestonesMilestones (~150 rows)CSVXLSX
D3 evm_monthlyMonthly EVM by control account (~2,000 rows)CSVXLSX
D5 budget_executionBudget execution by appropriation (1,296 rows)CSVXLSX

Data: programs, milestones, evm_monthly, budget_execution (CSV or XLSX in a folder; a SharePoint library is ideal).

  1. Get Data → Folder (or SharePoint folder). Load the four tables.
  2. Copy your StatusClean query from Excel (Module 1.4) into Power BI and confirm it runs.
  3. Look at Model view. Delete any relationships Power BI auto-detected wrongly.
  4. Build one table visual: Program, Phase, count of milestones.

📦 Mini-project: Source Inventory

Write a short "Data Source Register" (in a Markdown or Excel table): each source, owner, location, refresh frequency, sensitivity marking, connector type, and whether it needs a gateway. Real analytics teams keep this document.

🧠 Self-check quiz

Answer in your own words, then check. Grade yourself honestly; your score is saved.

Q2.1.1
What's the difference between a semantic model and a report?
Write at least a few words to unlock.
Q2.1.2
Why prefer a SharePoint folder over a local C:\ path for source files?
Write at least a few words to unlock.
Q2.1.3
When might you choose DirectQuery over Import?
Write at least a few words to unlock.
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