Expert Data Modeling with Power BI

Take your Power BI reports to the next level by learning various data modeling techniques and leveraging the latest features of Power BI effectively

Key Features

• Get an understanding of data modeling techniques using Power BI with this up-to-date guide
• Learn how to define the relationships between data sets to extract valuable insights
• Explore best practices for data preparation and modeling and build optimal data models to solve a wide variety of real-world business challenges

Book Description

This book is a comprehensive guide to understanding the ins and outs of data modeling and how to create full-fledged data models using Power BI confidently.

In this new, fully updated edition, you’ll learn how to connect data from multiple sources, understand data, define and manage relationships between data, and shape data models to gain deep and detailed insights about your organization. As you advance through the chapters, the book will demonstrate how to prepare efficient data models in the Power Query Editor and use simpler DAX code with new data modeling features. You’ll explore how to use the various data modeling and navigation techniques and perform custom calculations using the modeling features with the help of real-world examples. Finally, you’ll learn how to use some new and advanced modeling features to enhance your data models to carry out a wide variety of complex tasks. Additionally, you’ll learn valuable best practices and explore common data modeling complications and the solutions to supercharge the process of creating a data model in Power BI and build better-performing data models.

By the end of this Power BI book, you’ll have gained the skills you need to structure data coming from multiple sources in different ways to create optimized data models that support high-performing reports and data analytics.

What you will learn

• Implement virtual tables and time intelligence functionalities in DAX to build a powerful model
• Identify Dimension and Fact tables and implement them in Power Query Editor
• Deal with advanced data preparation scenarios while building Star Schema
• Discover different hierarchies and their common pitfalls
• Understand complex data models and how to decrease the level of model complexity with different approaches
• Learn advanced data modeling techniques such as calculation groups, aggregations, incremental refresh, RLS/OLS, and more
• Get well-versed with datamarts and dataflows in PowerBI

Who this book is for

This MS Power BI book is for BI users, data analysts, and analysis developers who want to become well-versed with data modeling techniques to make the most of Power BI. Basic working knowledge of Power BI and the Star Schema functionality are required to help you to understand the concepts covered in this book.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Data Modeling in Power BI
2. Data Analysis eXpressions and Data Modeling
3. Data Preparation in Power Query Editor
4. Getting Data from Various Sources
5. Common Data Preparation Steps
6. Star Schema Preparation In Power Query Editor
7. Data Preparation Common Best Practices
8. Data Modeling Components
9. Star Schema and Data Modeling Common Best Practices
10. Advanced Data Modeling Techniques
11. Row-Level and Object-Level Security
12. Dealing with More Advanced Data Warehousing Concepts in Power BI
13. Introduction to Dataflows
14. DirectQuery Connections to Power BI Datasets and Analysis Services in Composite Models
15. New Options, Features, and DAX Functions

Review

“As Power BI continues to evolve and expand its enterprise and self-service BI capabilities, the semantic data model remains at the heart of successful and sustainable solutions. This book highlights the use cases and detailed implementation of the latest and most advanced Power BI modeling features including composite models, aggregations, hybrid tables, object-level security, query and field parameters, calculation groups, and new DAX functions.”

Brett Powell, Owner, BI Consultant, Frontline Analytics, LLC, Author of Mastering Microsoft Power BI and Microsoft Power BI Cookbook

“As a big advocate for good data modeling, I found Microsoft Power BI Cookbook, second edition, and all its recent state of the art updates, very helpful. This book is ideal for anyone wants to deeply understand Power BI data modeling best practices from the beginner all the way to the expert level.”

Ashraf Ghonaim, Microsoft MVP – Data Platform (Power BI), MCT

About the Author

Soheil Bakhshi is the founder of Data Vizioner and is a sought after BI consultant. Working in data and analytics for more than 20 years, Soheil’s experience lies in Microsoft BI, Data Warehousing, and Power BI platform. He possesses MSCE, MCSA certifications and is a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional). He has a passion for sharing knowledge via his website and speaking at conferences and Power BI community events locally and globally. In following his desire for simplicity and efficiency, he is behind Power BI community tools and commercial products such as Power BI Exporter and Power BI Documenter.