In 2020, the world celebrated the brand new 12 months with many uncertainties. Nicely, life is filled with uncertainties, however, this one was very totally different. The world was going through a brand new pandemic that by no means skilled earlier than. The primary COVID19 case in New Zealand was confirmed in February 2020. In March 2020 the complete nation went to lockdown for the primary time. The world was experiencing a large risk altering everybody’s lives. I used to be no totally different. On daily basis was beginning with unhealthy information. A relative handed away; a pal obtained the virus; the shoppers put the initiatives on maintain and so forth. Nothing was trying regular anymore. You may’t even go to get a correct haircut, as a result of everyone seems to be in lockdown. That is me attempting to smile after getting a do-it-yourself haircut. I wager a lot of you may have carried out the identical factor.

In the future, I checked my e-mail and noticed a message from Packt Publishing. They wished to see if I’m fascinated with writing a guide about Energy BI. That was a chunk of fine information after a very long time. I all the time wished to put in writing a guide about Energy BI. Certainly, I tried for the primary time in 2016, however I couldn’t handle to get my geese in a row to understand the publishers’ consideration.

I used to be not unfamiliar with writing books; certainly, I wrote my first guide again in 2006 about Multimedia Functions in Persian. One in every of my passions in life is listening to music. And CDs had been essentially the most accessible music supply with high-quality sound. I recall I saved cash for some months, and I purchased a Discman to take heed to the music on the go. However CDs are moderately cumbersome, and you possibly can not have a lot of them in your pocket. So the subsequent venture was to save lots of much more cash to purchase an MP3 participant. However, changing Audio CDs to MP3 with out compromising lots on the sound high quality was an actual problem for many individuals. And, that was my motive to put in writing my first guide in Persian to share my little information with everybody. 

Whereas I used to be conversant in writing books, my earlier expertise was fairly totally different as my guide was in Persian, my first language. So writing a technical guide in English may very well be an actual problem. So, the e-mail from Packt Publishing may very well be a game-changer in some ways. Now, I had an enormous venture to cope with; as an alternative of desirous about all of the unfavorable pandemic information. I made a decision to just accept the problem and embraced the chance. In Might 2020, I formally began writing my guide, Skilled Information Modeling with Energy BI. I had lengthy days with a brilliant busy schedule for greater than a 12 months. I labored very exhausting to handle my duties because the founding father of Information Vizioner and sustain with the product growth, dealing with my consultancy function, writing my guide and on the identical time making an appropriate work-life stability. I labored between 12 to 16 hours a day, together with the weekends. However all of the exhausting works paid off after my guide was printed in June 2021.

What’s in This Ebook for You?

Microsoft Energy BI is without doubt one of the hottest enterprise intelligence instruments accessible in the marketplace that you should use in your native machine and the cloud. This guide shall be your information to understanding totally different facets of information modelling, so the main target of this guide is to not educate you the best way to write DAX expressions. For that matter, there are significantly better books on the market that I personally discuss with on some events. One of the best ones for studying DAX, in my view, are:

• Phill Seamark’s books:
  • Starting DAX with Energy BI: The SQL Professional’s Information to Higher Enterprise Intelligence
  • Professional DAX with Energy BI: Enterprise Intelligence with PowerPivot and SQL Server Evaluation Providers Tabular
• Marco Russo and Alberto Ferrari’s guide:
  • Definitive Information to DAX, The : Enterprise intelligence for Microsoft Energy BI, SQL Server Evaluation Providers, and Excel by Marco Russo and Alberto Ferrari

Whereas my guide closely makes use of many Energy Question methods, however once more, the principle focus isn’t on Energy Question. For studying Energy Question, I recommend studying the next guide:

To make it clearer, my guide discusses lots of DAX and Energy Question, however, the main target of the guide is to not remedy all modelling challenges solely with Energy Question or DAX. The main target right here is certainly on Energy Question, DAX and plenty of different facets of information modelling. As an example, the guide covers the circulation of information in several layers of Energy BI Desktop; an idea which may look trivial to many readers, however the truth is, it’s a essential idea that if we don’t perceive it nicely, we can not create a very good information mannequin. So, the guide begins discussing some constructing blocks, then it covers many facets of superior information modelling. So, no matter your degree of information, the Skilled Information Modelling with Energy BI has one thing for you.

What this guide covers

The next sections clarify what the guide covers in several chapters.

Chapter 1, Introduction to Information Modeling in Energy BI

This chapter briefly describes the totally different functionalities of Energy BI and why information modelling is necessary. This chapter additionally reveals some necessary notes to be thought of round Energy BI licensing, which doubtlessly may have an effect on your information mannequin. This chapter introduces an iterative information modelling method, which ensures an agile Energy BI implementation.

Chapter 2, Information Evaluation eXpressions and Information Modeling

This chapter doesn’t focus on lots of DAX as in components 3 and 4 of this guide DAX is closely used to resolve totally different information modelling challenges. Subsequently, we’ll solely give attention to the DAX functionalities which can be tougher to grasp and are very related to information modelling. This chapter begins with a fast introduction to DAX, then we soar straight to digital tables and time intelligence functionalities and their functions in real-world situations.

Chapter 3, Information Preparation in Energy Question Editor

This chapter rapidly explains the parts of Energy Question and their software. It expresses the emphasis of making question parameters and user-defined capabilities together with real-world use instances and situations to show how highly effective they’re in constructing rather more versatile and maintainable fashions.

Chapter 4, Getting Information from Varied Sources

This chapter explains getting information from totally different information sources which can be extra generally utilized in Energy BI. Then, the significance of information supply certification is defined, which helps you set your expectations on the kind of information you’re going to cope with. That is particularly useful in estimating information modelling efforts. Totally different connection modes are additionally defined on this chapter.

Chapter 5, Widespread Information Preparation Steps

Explains frequent information preparation steps together with real-world hands-on situations. A mix of what you may have realized thus far on this guide with the steps to be mentioned on this chapter offers you a robust basis to go on to the subsequent chapters and construct your information fashions extra effectively. By studying these functionalities, you possibly can cope with lots of totally different situations in implementing totally different information fashions.

Chapter 6, Star Schema Preparation in Energy Question Editor

Explains the best way to put together your queries primarily based on the star schema information modelling method with real-life situations. The Energy Question M language shall be closely used on this chapter, so you’ll learn to cope with real-world challenges alongside the best way. As you may have already realized frequent information preparation steps within the earlier chapter, nearly all of Energy Question situations defined on this chapter shall be simpler to implement. You’ll additionally learn to construct dimension tables and truth tables, and the best way to denormalize your queries when wanted.

Chapter 7, Information Preparation Widespread Greatest Practices

Explains frequent greatest practices in information preparation. Following these practices will show you how to construct extra environment friendly information fashions which can be simpler to take care of and extra versatile to make adjustments to. Following these practices, you may as well keep away from frequent errors, which may make your life a lot simpler.

Chapter 8, Information Modeling Elements

Explains information modelling parts from a Energy BI perspective together with actual file examples. On this chapter, we closely use DAX when relevant so having a fundamental understanding of DAX is crucial. We even have a whole star schema mannequin in Energy BI. The idea of config tables is roofed, which unlocks lots of prospects in dealing with extra complicated enterprise logic within the information mannequin. The chapter
ends with information modelling naming conventions.

Chapter 9, Star Shema and Information Modeling Widespread Greatest Practices

This chapter explains frequent information modelling greatest practices that can assist you make higher choices whereas constructing your information mannequin to stop going through some recognized points down the highway. As an example, coping with information kind points in key columns which can be utilized in relationships is considerably time-consuming to establish, nevertheless it’s very straightforward to stop. So, understanding information modelling greatest practices helps you save lots of upkeep time and consequently saves you cash.

Chapter 10, Superior Information Modeling Methods

This chapter explains particular modelling methods that remedy particular enterprise necessities. information modeller is one who’s all the time open to new challenges. You might face a few of the superior enterprise necessities mentioned on this chapter or you could face one thing totally different however comparable. The message we need to ship on this chapter is to assume freely when coping with new enterprise challenges and attempt to be
revolutionary to get the very best outcomes.

Chapter 11, Row-Stage Safety

Explains the best way to implement row-level safety (RLS) in a Energy BI information mannequin. Coping with RLS may be complicated and understanding the best way to cope with totally different conditions wants deep information on information modelling and filter propagation ideas. Our goal on this chapter is to switch that information to you so you possibly can design and implement high-performing and low-maintenance information fashions.

Chapter 12, Further Choices and Options Obtainable for Information Modeling

This chapter introduces information modelling choices reminiscent of Slowly Altering Dimensions (SCD), Object-Stage Safety (OLS), dataflows, and composite fashions, supplying you with broad publicity to all these subjects.

I Was Not Alone Alongside the Method

All this was not attainable with out having the complete help of my pretty spouse, my associates and my household. I additionally want to present my particular gratefulness to 2 superb professionals:

I additionally thank the next Microsoft MVPs who put their priceless time to overview my guide after publication and offered their suggestions:

Thanks everybody in your help.