Carnegie Mellon University
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Get Started with Power BI

Learn how to use the Power BI collection of tools to connect data, transform it, and create compelling visualizations like charts, maps, and graphs, available across desktop, web, and mobile.

Those using Mac or Windows computers can view reports, add comments, download data, create subscriptions, and receive alerts through our Power BI Service. You can also use the service to make new reports and build data models directly.

Become familiar with fundamental terminology and concepts, and learn how to navigate the Power BI environment.

  1. Review the Basics of the Power BI Service to master core terms and concepts.
  2. Learn how to get around in the Power BI Service to locate workspaces, apps, and dashboards.
  3. Practice: Log in to Power BI Service and explore the interface.
  4. Switching from Tableau? Review our Tableau to Power BI Comparison [PDF].

Learn how to connect Power BI to various data sources safely and efficiently.

  1. Take our Data Preparation and Performance course to learn how to create effective reports by concentrating on two key areas: data preparation and efficient connections.

  2. Practice: Connect to a Snowflake schema and perform basic data cleanup in Power Query before loading

  3. (Optional) Connect to an Excel dataset. Note: Snowflake is the preferred data source.

Course Resources

Transform raw data into compelling visuals and leverage.

  1. Review the Create Report Visuals tutorial to learn how to develop charts, maps, and graphs.
  2. (Pro Licenses) Prepare your data for AI to improve Copilot results. 
  3. Use the Power BI Report Template. 
  4. Ensure your report meets the guidelines outlined in the Accessibility documentation and adheres to the CMU Brand Design Guidelines.
  5. Practice: Build a single-page report that includes at least three distinct visual types (e.g., a bar chart, a trendline graph and a KPI card).

Share reports securely with internal or external stakeholders while adhering to university data governance policies.

  1. Understand your workspace roles by reviewing the Workspace Setup guidelines. 
  2. Review sharing protocols: use Publish an app for internal teams, and understand the strict parameters of using Publish to the web for external audiences.
  3. (Optional) Learn how to manage your content lifecycle leveraging deployment pipelines.
  4. Practice: Request a collaborative workspace if you don’t already have one. Practice publishing your completed report to a test app.
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Resources

Continuous Learning & Community

New to Power BI

Attend the Dashboard in a Day (Microsoft) session or take the Power BI Bootcamp in FocusU. 

Then, take our Data Preparation and Performance course to learn how to create effective reports.

Session Resources

Session recordings and slide decks for recent training workshops.

Keep Learning

Join the CMU Power BI User Group for ongoing support after completing your training. As a member of the Power BI User Group, you can ask real-time questions in the Power BI Chat.