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

Using shapes as cards in your dashboards

After setting the stage with our mockup, we will now bring in the first element of our dashboard: a card that displays the calculations for revenue, cost, profit, and profit margin.

Before we proceed with this, let’s quickly go over these calculations.

We will switch to the Calculations sheet.

The calculations for these metrics can be done using PivotTables or cube functions. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at both options.

To use PivotTables, follow this process:

  1. Select any cell, preferably cell B3.
  2. Go to Insert > PivotTable > Data Model.
Figure 8.11 – Inserting a PivotTable from a data model

Figure 8.11 – Inserting a PivotTable from a data model

  1. Choose Existing Worksheet in the dialog box that follows to insert the PivotTable directly in cell B3.
  2. Go to the field list of the PivotTable and, under My Measures, check the box for Revenue, and this will be added to the Values section...