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

Exporting your data model to Power BI

Exporting a data model from Excel to Power BI, including all measures and Power Query transformations, is a seamless process that involves importing the Excel workbook into Power BI Desktop. The two programs work together smoothly, so you can move your data over without a hitch.

Power BI can handle big, complex datasets. This is great when you have a lot of information to work with.

Let’s go through the steps:

  1. We begin by opening Power BI Desktop. This is free and you will not require an account to use this. However, a licensed version gives you more advantages when you bring in the data model from Excel.
Figure 10.33 – Power BI Desktop

Figure 10.33 – Power BI Desktop

  1. After opening Power BI Desktop, you can now go to File | Import and choose the Power Query, Power Pivot, Power View option:
Figure 10.34 – Accessing the Import option

Figure 10.34 – Accessing the Import option

Ensure that your Excel file containing...