Lesson 1: Get started with Microsoft data analytics
Introduction
- Power BI can scale from simple reports using a single data source to reports requiring complex data modelilng and consistent themes. Use Power BI to create visually stunning, interactive reports to serve as the analytics and decision engine behind group projects, divisions, or entire organisations.
Use PowerBi
There are 3 main components to PowerBi
- Power BI Desktop (desktop application)
- Power BI service (online platform)
- Power BI Mobile (cross-platform mobile app)
Power BI Desktop is the development tool available to data analysts and other report creators. While the Power BI service allows you to organise, manage, and distribute your reports and other Power BI items. Power BI Mobile allows consumers to view reports in a mobile-optimised format. You can create these optimised report views in Power BI Desktop.
The flow of work in the use of PowerBi is to start with the Power BI Desktop where all the data preparation and modelling is being done, thereafter, the report is published to Power BI service. Power BI service is used to distribute and manage reports. The Power BI service also allows you to create high-level dashboards that drill down to reports, and apps to easily group related reports to users in a simple format.
The flow of Power BI is:
- Connect to data with Power BI Desktop.
- Transform and model data with Power BI Desktop.
- Create visualizations and reports with Power BI Desktop.
- Publish report to Power BI service.
- Distribute and manage reports in the Power BI service.
- You can access the Power BI service at app.powerbi.com
Building blocks of PowerBI
- The building blocks of Power BI are semantic models and visualizations. Create a semantic model and then use visuals to build a report. The two concepts are the most critical element of the PowerBi.
Create a semantic model:
- This is the connected data, the transformation, the data relationships and equally the involvement of the calculations.
- In line with the flow of PowerBi flow, you must first connect to the data sources, transform the data, create relationships, and create a semantic modelling.
- After the determination the of the data relationship through the semantic model, the next stage is the creation of the report.
Create visualizations in a report:
- In Power BI Desktop, when you create a visualization (also called visual), you add it to the canvas for a report page.
- Choose your visualizations to build pages in your report. It's ideal to keep each page simple with related data, so consumers can easily see the insights.
- PB is a low code solution design software whereby you do more of the task by drag and drop field directly into the canvas.
- Interactivity is one of the most valuable features of the PB. Consumers can easily select and drill through from one visuals to a more detail of filter base on different fields in the report.
- Once we are satisfied with our report, we publish it to the Power BI service.
Create a dashboard
- We can create a dashboards after we have published our report.
- Dashboards consist of a single page made up of tiles. We can add tiles to a dashboard by pinning a visual in a report to the dashboard.
- Note that tiles are not interactive like visuals, mostly, tiles are interlinks to the main report. so when a user interacts with the tile, they go to the underlying report for more information.
- Dashboards are an excellent way to provide high-level information to consumers. Similar to a dashboard in a vehicle, include the most important information in a dashboard. Then consumers can go to the report for more details.
Tour and use of the Power Bi Service
- As stated that after the creation of report, the next stage is the sharing of the content of the report, and this is done by PB services.
- Activity in the PB services are organised by workspace, and note that workspace is the foundation to the activity in the PB Services. Thus, it is compulsory that before we can publish a report, we must choose a workspace.
- By default, every users have access to the “My workspace” which is the ideal for testing.
- Note that if we want to share content with others, we are expected to aways create and use a “Share workspace.
To create a new workspace
- Click on the workspace icon
- Click on the + New Workspace
Sample report:
- PB Services comes with some free sample report that can be used for training purpose. Those reports load to My workspace, thus, it can be explored in course of knowing what did the PB services entails. Click on “learn” to access the free sample report.
Distribute a content:
- In a workspace, you can create an app, which provides consumers a simplified interface to access reports and dashboards. In the app configuration, you set up the app, select the content to include (limited to the current workspace), and choose your audience.
- Once you create an app, you must update the app after each change to items in the workspace. The requirement to update the app allows you to control what version of the content is visible to your audience.
Explore template apps:
- Aside from creating our own app, there are several pre-loaded and various app from other developers being added to PB Services every time, and those can be a good start for finding an existing app that suits our needs, and then we can connect our data.
- These apps can be a great way to quickly share insights with minimal effort.
- Click on the get App to explore the existing app.
Refresh a semantic model
- In order to support your ever-changing data, you can configure scheduled refreshes of your semantic models in the Power BI service. On-demand refreshes are also available.
Knowledge checks
Summary
Microsoft Power BI offers a complete data analytics solution that includes data preparation, visualization, and distribution. Semantic models and visualizations are the building blocks of Power BI.
The flow and components of Power BI include:
- Power BI Desktop for creating semantic models and reports with visualizations.
- Power BI service for creating dashboards from published reports and distributing content with apps.
- Power BI Mobile for on-the-go access to the Power BI service content, designed for mobile.
By using Power BI, you can make data-informed decisions across your organization.
Practice Questions - Get Started Building with Power BI
Section 2: Get Started Building with Power BI - Practice Questions
Instructions: Test your knowledge of all concepts covered in this section. Answer all questions first, then scroll to the Answer Key section at the very end to check your work.
Question 1
What are the three main components of Power BI?
A) Power BI Desktop, Power BI Premium, Power BI Pro
B) Power BI Desktop, Power BI service, Power BI Mobile
C) Power BI Desktop, Power BI Gateway, Power BI Report Server
D) Power BI Pro, Power BI Free, Power BI Premium
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of Power BI Desktop?
A) To distribute reports to end users
B) To view reports on mobile devices
C) To serve as the development tool for data analysts
D) To create dashboards only
Question 3
What is the correct workflow sequence in Power BI?
A) Create dashboard → Connect to data → Transform data → Publish
B) Connect to data → Transform and model → Create visualizations → Publish → Distribute
C) Publish report → Connect to data → Create visualizations
D) Distribute → Model → Connect → Visualize
Question 4
Where can you access the Power BI service?
Question 5
What are the two most critical building blocks of Power BI?
A) Dashboards and reports
B) Semantic models and visualizations
C) Workspaces and apps
D) Datasets and queries
Question 6
What components make up a semantic model in Power BI? (Select all that apply)
A) Connected data
B) Transformations
C) Dashboard tiles
D) Data relationships
E) Calculations
F) Mobile layouts
Question 7
Where do you create visualizations in Power BI Desktop?
A) In the Power BI service
B) On the canvas for a report page
C) In Power Query Editor
D) In the Data view
Question 8
What is a key design principle for Power BI report pages?
A) Include as many visuals as possible on one page
B) Keep each page simple with related data
C) Use only one type of visual per page
D) Never use more than three colors
Question 9
Power BI is described as a low-code solution. What does this mean?
A) You must write less code than other tools
B) You do most tasks by drag and drop directly into the canvas
C) Only basic features are available
D) Programming knowledge is required
Question 10
What is one of the most valuable features of Power BI for end users?
A) The ability to export data to Excel
B) Interactivity - users can select and drill through visuals
C) Automated report generation
D) Built-in templates
Question 11
After you create a report in Power BI Desktop, what is the next step?
A) Create a dashboard
B) Share directly with users
C) Publish it to the Power BI service
D) Export it to PDF
Question 12
What is a dashboard in Power BI?
A) A collection of multiple report pages
B) A single page made up of tiles
C) Another name for a report
D) A mobile-only view
Question 13
How do you add tiles to a Power BI dashboard?
A) Create them directly in the dashboard
B) Import from Power BI Desktop
C) Pin a visual from a report to the dashboard
D) Copy from other dashboards
Question 14
Are dashboard tiles interactive like report visuals?
A) Yes, tiles have the same interactivity as visuals
B) No, tiles are interlinks to the main report
C) Only some tiles are interactive
D) Tiles are more interactive than visuals
Question 15
What is the purpose of creating a dashboard?
A) To replace reports
B) To provide high-level information to consumers
C) To store historical data
D) To create complex calculations
Question 16
What is a workspace in the Power BI service?
A) A folder for organizing files
B) The foundation for organizing activities in the Power BI service
C) A type of report
D) A dashboard view
Question 17
What is "My workspace" used for?
A) Sharing content with the entire organization
B) Testing and personal development
C) Creating production reports
D) Managing user permissions
Question 18
When should you create a shared workspace instead of using "My workspace"?
A) When testing new features
B) When you want to share content with others
C) When creating your first report
D) Only when required by IT
Question 19
How do you create a new workspace in Power BI service?
A) File → New Workspace
B) Click Workspace icon → + New Workspace
C) Home → Create Workspace
D) Settings → Add Workspace
Question 20
What does the Power BI service provide for learning purposes?
A) Free certification courses
B) Sample reports that load to My workspace
C) One-on-one training sessions
D) Printed manuals
Question 21
What is an app in Power BI?
A) A mobile application
B) A simplified interface to access reports and dashboards
C) A Power BI Desktop plugin
D) A data connection tool
Question 22
What happens when you make changes to items in a workspace that has an app?
A) Changes automatically appear in the app
B) You must update the app for changes to be visible
C) The app deletes itself
D) Users are notified automatically
Question 23
What is the benefit of using template apps?
A) They eliminate the need for data
B) They provide a quick start with pre-built solutions
C) They're required for all Power BI projects
D) They automatically collect your data
Question 24
How do you access template apps in Power BI service?
A) Download from Microsoft Store
B) Click "Get App" in Power BI service
C) Request from IT department
D) Build from scratch only
Question 25
What types of refreshes can you configure for semantic models in Power BI service?
A) Manual refresh only
B) Scheduled refresh and on-demand refresh
C) Automatic refresh only
D) Real-time refresh only
Question 26
True or False: You can create dashboards in Power BI Desktop.
A) True
B) False
Question 27
Which component allows consumers to view reports in a mobile-optimized format?
A) Power BI Desktop
B) Power BI Gateway
C) Power BI Mobile
D) Power BI Report Server
Question 28
SCENARIO: You've created a report in Power BI Desktop. Your manager wants to view it on their tablet. What's the correct sequence of steps?
A) Export to PDF → Email to manager
B) Publish to Power BI service → Manager accesses via Power BI Mobile
C) Save to OneDrive → Share link
D) Print and scan to digital format
Question 29
What must exist before you can publish a report from Power BI Desktop?
A) A dashboard
B) A workspace in the Power BI service
C) At least 10 visualizations
D) Multiple data sources
Question 30
What does Power BI allow you to do after publishing a report to the service? (Select all that apply)
A) Create dashboards from the report
B) Schedule data refreshes
C) Share with other users through apps
D) Edit the data model
E) Create workspaces
Question 31
SCENARIO: Your team needs to share 5 related reports with the sales department. What's the best approach?
A) Email each report separately
B) Create a workspace and build an app
C) Publish to My workspace and share links
D) Create 5 separate dashboards
Question 32
In the Power BI workflow, when do you transform and model data?
A) After publishing to the service
B) In Power BI Mobile
C) In Power BI Desktop, before creating visualizations
D) After creating the dashboard
Question 33
What's the relationship between reports and dashboards?
A) They're the same thing
B) Dashboards are created from reports by pinning visuals
C) Reports are created from dashboards
D) They cannot coexist
Question 34
Why is it important to keep report pages simple with related data?
A) It uses less memory
B) Consumers can easily see the insights
C) It's a legal requirement
D) Power BI limits the number of visuals
Question 35
What capability does Power BI Mobile provide that enhances user experience?
A) Creating new reports
B) Viewing reports in mobile-optimized format
C) Transforming data
D) Publishing reports
Question 36
SCENARIO: You've published a report to a shared workspace. Users report they cannot see the latest changes you made. What's the likely issue?
A) The report is corrupted
B) Users don't have internet connection
C) You didn't update the app after making changes
D) Power BI service is down
Question 37
What's the primary advantage of using the Power BI service over just using Power BI Desktop?
A) Better visualization options
B) Organization, management, and distribution of reports
C) Faster data transformations
D) More data source connections
Question 38
Which statement about semantic models is correct?
A) They only contain raw data
B) They include data connections, transformations, relationships, and calculations
C) They're created in Power BI Mobile
D) They cannot be shared
Question 39
True or False: You must have Power BI Pro or Premium to publish reports to the Power BI service.
A) True
B) False
Question 40
What's the main purpose of the interactivity feature in Power BI reports?
A) To make reports look modern
B) To allow users to explore data dynamically through selections and drill-through
C) To increase file size
D) To replace the need for multiple reports
Question 41
SCENARIO: You want to provide executives with a high-level view showing only the most important KPIs from several detailed reports. What should you create?
A) Another detailed report
B) A dashboard
C) A mobile app
D) A data model
Question 42
What determines which content is included when you create an app?
A) All content in Power BI service
B) Content from all workspaces
C) Content limited to the current workspace
D) Only dashboards
Question 43
Why would you use template apps instead of building from scratch?
A) They're mandatory
B) To quickly share insights with minimal effort using pre-built solutions
C) They're free while custom apps cost money
D) You can't build custom apps
Question 44
What's required to keep data current in Power BI service reports?
A) Republishing reports daily
B) Configuring scheduled refreshes of semantic models
C) Manually updating each visual
D) Recreating dashboards
Question 45
In which component do you design mobile-optimized report layouts?
A) Power BI Mobile app
B) Power BI service
C) Power BI Desktop
D) Power BI Gateway
Question 46
SCENARIO: Your organization has multiple departments, each needing their own space to collaborate on reports. What should you create?
A) Multiple dashboards in My workspace
B) Separate shared workspaces for each department
C) One large workspace for everyone
D) Multiple apps without workspaces
Question 47
What happens when a user clicks on a tile in a Power BI dashboard?
A) The tile expands in the dashboard
B) They navigate to the underlying report
C) A new window opens with raw data
D) Nothing happens
Question 48
Which Power BI component serves as the analytics and decision engine for organizations?
A) Power Query
B) Reports with visualizations
C) Data sources
D) Bookmarks
Question 49
True or False: Dashboards can contain visuals from multiple reports.
A) True
B) False
Question 50
What's the ultimate goal of using Power BI according to the module summary?
A) To replace Excel
B) To make data-informed decisions across your organization
C) To create the most visuals
D) To eliminate the need for databases
Answer Key (Check After You Finish)
Try to answer every question before looking here.
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- A, B, D, E
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B (False)
- C
- B
- B
- A, B, C, E
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
- A (True)
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- A (True)
- B
Summary
You've completed the practice questions for Section 2: Get Started Building with Power BI with the answers moved to the end so you can self-test without seeing them immediately.
Key principles to remember:
- Desktop = Development | Service = Distribution | Mobile = Consumption
- Semantic model + Visualizations = Complete solution
- Dashboards provide high-level views; Reports provide detailed analysis
- Use shared workspaces for collaboration
- Apps simplify content distribution and must be updated after changes
- Configure scheduled refreshes to keep data current
Good luck with your PL-300 exam! 🚀