Power BI Unit-1 Step-by-Step Study Guide 📊
Memory Framework: "DICE"
D - Download & Setup
I - Import Data
C - Clean Data
E - Enhance Columns
🚀 Topic 1: Handshake with Power BI
What is Power BI?
Power BI is a business analytics tool that transforms raw data into interactive reports and dashboards. It
has three main components: Power BI Desktop (create reports), Power BI Service (share online), and
Power BI Mobile (view on devices). Think of it as Excel's advanced version for data visualization.
Power BI Desktop Installation Steps
Memory: "D-I-L-L" (Download, Install, Launch, Login)
1. Download: Go to powerbi.microsoft.com → Click "Download Power BI Desktop"
2. Install: Run the downloaded .exe file → Follow installation wizard
3. Launch: Open Power BI Desktop from Start menu or desktop shortcut
4. Login: Sign in with Microsoft account (optional but recommended)
Data Import Steps
Memory: "G-C-B-P-L" (Get, Choose, Browse, Preview, Load)
1. Get: Click "Get Data" button on Home ribbon
2. Choose: Select data source (Excel, CSV, Database, Web, etc.)
3. Browse: Navigate and select your data file
4. Preview: Check data in Navigator window
5. Load: Click "Load" (direct) or "Transform Data" (clean first)
Report Creation Steps
Memory: "S-D-F-S" (Select, Drag, Format, Save)
1. Select: Choose visualization from Visualizations pane (chart type)
2. Drag: Move fields from Fields pane to visualization areas
Axis = Categories (X-axis)
Values = Numbers (Y-axis)
Legend = Grouping
3. Format: Use Format pane to customize colors, titles, labels
4. Save: Press Ctrl+S or File → Save
🧹 Topic 2: Data Management (Power Query)
What is Power Query?
Power Query is Power BI's data cleaning engine. Access it by clicking "Transform Data" during import or
Home → Transform Data. It provides operations to clean messy data, remove errors, split text, combine
tables, and restructure data for analysis.
Remove Rows Steps
Memory: "S-R-C" (Select, Right-click, Choose)
1. Select: Highlight unwanted rows (headers, blanks, errors)
2. Right-click: Context menu appears
3. Choose: Select "Remove Rows" or use Home → Remove Rows → specific option
Remove Top Rows, Remove Bottom Rows, Remove Blank Rows, Remove Errors
Split Columns Steps
Memory: "S-T-S-C-A" (Select, Transform, Split, Choose, Apply)
1. Select: Click on column to split
2. Transform: Go to Transform tab
3. Split: Click "Split Column"
4. Choose: Pick delimiter type:
By Delimiter (comma, space, semicolon)
By Number of Characters
By Positions
5. Apply: Preview and confirm changes
Merge Tables Steps
Memory: "H-M-S-M-J" (Home, Merge, Select, Match, Join)
1. Home: Click Home tab
2. Merge: Select "Merge Queries"
3. Select: Choose two tables to combine
4. Match: Pick common columns (Customer ID, Product Code)
5. Join: Choose join type:
Inner Join (matching records only)
Left Join (all from first table)
Right Join (all from second table)
Group By Steps
Memory: "T-G-S-N-O-A" (Transform, Group, Select, Name, Operation, Apply)
1. Transform: Click Transform tab
2. Group: Select "Group By"
3. Select: Choose column to group by (Region, Category)
4. Name: Enter new column name
5. Operation: Pick aggregation:
Sum (total), Count (quantity), Average, Max, Min
6. Apply: Confirm grouping
Append Tables Steps
Memory: "H-A-S-C" (Home, Append, Select, Combine)
1. Home: Go to Home tab
2. Append: Click "Append Queries"
3. Select: Choose tables with same structure
4. Combine: Tables stack vertically (ensure matching column names)
🔧 Topic 3: Columns in Power BI
Transform Tab Features
Transform tab contains data modification tools. Key feature is Unpivot Columns, which converts wide data
(multiple columns) to narrow format (rows). This transforms spreadsheet-style data into database-friendly
structure for better analysis and visualization in Power BI reports.
Unpivot Columns Steps
Memory: "S-T-U-C" (Select, Transform, Unpivot, Choose)
1. Select: Highlight columns to unpivot (month columns: Jan, Feb, Mar)
2. Transform: Click Transform tab
3. Unpivot: Select "Unpivot Columns"
4. Choose: Pick option:
Unpivot Columns (selected ones become rows)
Unpivot Other Columns (everything except selected)
Custom Columns Creation Steps
Memory: "A-C-N-F-O" (Add, Custom, Name, Formula, OK)
1. Add: Go to Add Column tab
2. Custom: Click "Custom Column"
3. Name: Enter new column name
4. Formula: Write expression using available columns:
Math: [Sales] * 0.1
Text: [First Name] & " " & [Last Name]
Conditional: if [Sales] > 1000 then "High" else "Low"
Date: Date.Year([Order Date])
5. OK: Apply and create column
Custom Column Formula Types
Math Operations Steps:
1. Type = to start formula
2. Select first column [Price]
3. Add operator *
4. Select second column [Quantity]
5. Result: = [Price] * [Quantity]
Text Combination Steps:
1. Start with =
2. Select first text column [First Name]
3. Add concatenation &
4. Add space " "
5. Add another &
6. Select second column [Last Name]
7. Result: = [First Name] & " " & [Last Name]
Conditional Logic Steps:
1. Begin with = if
2. Add condition [Sales] > 1000
3. Add then keyword
4. Specify true result "High"
5. Add else keyword
6. Specify false result "Low"
7. Result: = if [Sales] > 1000 then "High" else "Low"
🎯 Exam Memory System
Step Memory Aids
Installation: "D-I-L-L" (Download, Install, Launch, Login)
Import: "G-C-B-P-L" (Get, Choose, Browse, Preview, Load)
Reports: "S-D-F-S" (Select, Drag, Format, Save)
Remove: "S-R-C" (Select, Right-click, Choose)
Split: "S-T-S-C-A" (Select, Transform, Split, Choose, Apply)
Merge: "H-M-S-M-J" (Home, Merge, Select, Match, Join)
Group: "T-G-S-N-O-A" (Transform, Group, Select, Name, Operation, Apply)
Custom: "A-C-N-F-O" (Add, Custom, Name, Formula, OK)
Quick Practice Method
1. Read step sequence (use memory aids)
2. Visualize each action (see yourself clicking buttons)
3. Practice on sample data (hands-on reinforcement)
4. Review memory aids daily (spaced repetition for long-term retention)
