Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI - Basics and Beyond

Introduction to Microsoft Power BI

Data visualization is the graphical representation of data that uses charts, graphs, and other visual tools to communicate complex information clearly and effectively. By visualizing data, patterns, trends, and outliers become more apparent, helping to unlock insights from big data. Interactive dashboards enable real-time data exploration and information sharing, making it easier for decision-makers to identify key insights. As organizations rely more on data-driven strategies, data visualization becomes an essential tool for simplifying complex datasets, fostering better communication, and driving informed decisions across teams and departments.

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Installation process of Power BI

It only runs on Windows machines if Mac users want to use that they need to have Windows Azure and load Power BI onto that, which can connect it to MAC directly from the cloud. Users can use it in two manners:-

• In the online version, from the Microsoft store, install the app and sign up.
• Software is downloaded locally and then install it. Try to follow all the installation process.

Pro Tip: It is available in two versions, i.e., .32-bit and 64-bit.To get the latest version to follow this link

3. Click on Download; you will get a pop-up window that will ask to open on Microsoft store. After that, you will get an install option, then click on Install. When all the installation process is completed, you will get a window like this.

Key features of Microsoft Power BI

1. Data Visualization using it provides a full variety of visualizations like stacked column chart, matrix chart, filled map, funnel chart, waterfall chart. It helps in creating attractive dashboards and reports.
2. It takes data from various sources like Excel, SQL Server, and many more. Dataset is used to create a dashboard using different visualizations. Datasets can be filtered and sometimes a subset of essential data.
3. A tile in Data visualization with it contains a single visualization in the dashboard. Tiles help in comparing different information to get a clear view of the result. Tiles are adjustable and can be placed anywhere.
4. Power Bi also provides a navigation pane in which users can use navigator from a data view to a relationship view and a report view. Users can also navigate between reports, dashboards, and dataset conventionally.
5. Reports in it contain various dashboards of a different kind. The report helps in representing a complete and structured presentation of data in multiple manners.
6. It has a particular functionality called Q&A functionality. It is the fastest way of getting the answer to your question using natural processing. Due to this functionality, it is top-cited in gaining SELF-SERVICE BI.
7. It is easy to use and does not require any special skills. Therefore, ordinary users can access it easily.
8. Data Visualization using it has one more special functionality called DAX (Data Analysis Expression). For performing analytics, it has predefined codes and specific functionality. Around 200 functions are available in the Power BI library.
9. Feedback and help buttons are used in setting various options like giving feedback, downloading, and asking for help.
10. Most of its product is updated every month with more functionality.

A method of translating raw data into visual forms like charts, graphs, and maps. Click to explore about our, Graph Analytics and Knowledge Graph Use Cases

Data Analytics Connectivity in Power BI

Let us practice connecting data in it. To do this, click on get data you will get a display window like this.

To get data from various resources like excel, Access database, SQL Server, click on Get data. A drop down will be displayed like this.

Excel

After clicking on the Excel option, you will get a window like this; you will get a preview of all the sheets that you want to load, then click on the Load tab.

After clicking on the load tab, you will see the data of Excel file

This is a relationship view that will represent the relationship between two sheets by putting a line between them.

SQL Server

Click on the Get data, click on More, drag mouse on the database and click on the SQL Server Database.

Press the Connect button; then, it will ask the server name and database name (which is optional) and select import then OK.

What are the types of visualization in Power BI?

It helps in designing reports which are collections of various visualization charts or graphs. Reports are represented on two or three pages, and they are sometimes related to one. Like this, a cluster helps in differentiating the time spent by each employee on a particular project.

The pie chart is used to display the contribution of every employee in project p0001.

This treemap will represent emp id will employee having bonuses and their gender.

This card will help to show terms like total productivity, total income, count of employees like it is telling no of hours spent on each project.

Many more visualization charts and graphs are available, like stack column charts, donut charts, map charts, and slices.

Designing a Dashboard in Power BI

A dashboard is a selection of various Data Visualization Tools like a pie chart, slice, KPI, cluster Bar Chart, and many more. This helps in comparing multiple fields simultaneously. As we know, the report consists of two or more pages, where the dashboard is of a single page.

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How to create an attractive dashboard?

Once we are done with the dataset according to our requirements, they will start designing our dataset. Its dashboard provides visualization tools that will tell a story better on a single page. Let’s take a real-life example to understand it better.

Emp_id By Productivity

This tells employees with the highest productivity using the line chart.

Total_income and productivity By Emp_id

This is a treemap that will tell the total income and productivity of each employee.

Time spent on each project By Emp_id

This will represent the contribution of each employee in each project.

Points to be considered about the dashboard

1. This is a complete dashboard. It is colorful, uses the proper font, and will make everything apparent to the viewer.
2. Dashboards will help the viewer to make decisions faster and more frequently.
3. Data Visualization using it does not need any special technical skills.
4. The dashboard should be designed in such a way that it looks attractive and catches the human eye automatically.

Next Steps Towards Data Visualization  

To enhance data visualization, the next steps include selecting the right tools, defining key metrics, and ensuring data accuracy. Focus should be on creating interactive, user-friendly dashboards that provide meaningful insights, empowering stakeholders to make data-driven decisions effectively.

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