Book Image

Data Modeling with Microsoft Excel

By : Bernard Obeng Boateng
5 (1)
Book Image

Data Modeling with Microsoft Excel

5 (1)
By: Bernard Obeng Boateng

Overview of this book

Microsoft Excel's BI solutions have evolved, offering users more flexibility and control over analyzing data directly in Excel. Features like PivotTables, Data Model, Power Query, and Power Pivot empower Excel users to efficiently get, transform, model, aggregate, and visualize data. Data Modeling with Microsoft Excel offers a practical way to demystify the use and application of these tools using real-world examples and simple illustrations. This book will introduce you to the world of data modeling in Excel, as well as definitions and best practices in data structuring for both normalized and denormalized data. The next set of chapters will take you through the useful features of Data Model and Power Pivot, helping you get to grips with the types of schemas (snowflake and star) and create relationships within multiple tables. You’ll also understand how to create powerful and flexible measures using DAX and Cube functions. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to apply the acquired knowledge in real-world scenarios and build an interactive dashboard that will help you make important decisions.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
1
Part 1: Overview and Introduction to Data Modeling in Microsoft Excel
6
Part 2: Creating Insightful Calculations from your Data Model using DAX and Cube Functions
9
Part 3: Putting it all together with a Dashboard

Common dashboard elements

In Excel, creating a dashboard isn’t just about presenting numbers. It’s also about telling a story and making that story interactive and engaging. The dataset in our Data Model already contains valuable information on customers, products, stores, locations, sales, and returns. Think of each piece as a chapter of your story.

Let’s dive into how you can use the dataset you already have to craft this story with some common dashboard elements.

PivotTables

PivotTables provide a powerful way to summarize and analyze large datasets dynamically. PivotTables are normally used to stage the summary reports that most of the charts in our dashboard are created on. This is very useful because if there are changes in your source data, the summary reports will also be updated after clicking on refresh. Most charts in your Excel dashboard will be driven by a PivotTable.

Figure 7.9 – Inserting a PivotTable from the Data Model

Figure 7.9 – Inserting a PivotTable from...