Power Query can easily combine data from multiple Excel files. A problem can arise if one or more of the files is open. Power Query will generate an error and the import will fail. The solution involves an old school Excel feature.
Category Archives: Power BI
Creating a table of all combinations in Excel [Video]
Power Query solution
Let’s assume you have three state codes and four department codes and you want to create a table of all the possible 12 combinations (3 x 4). How do you do it so that it is flexible? i.e. if you add a new state or department it must be easy to update the combination table.
Filter in Power BI Data View
Filtering coming soon to the Data view in Power BI. Fingers crossed this gets done soon – patience everyone.
Dates are Easy with Power Query
Getting the date right and save time
You can create complex functions with Excel to handle dates. But it makes more sense to get your data structured correctly and then you can use simpler date formulas. Power Query allows you to fix your data so that you can use those simpler formulas.
Power Query Privacy Setting Problem
Excel 2016 solution
Privacy settings allow you to control who sees the Power Query data. There seems to be a bug that remembers your response to a dialog and this ignores any changes to the Privacy settings. Find out the VBA line of code that can fix it.
PDF and Power BI
Looks like Power BI will soon be able to extract data from tables in PDF documents.
Great to see requests being acted on.
Understanding Filter Context in DAX
An Excel-based explanation
Are you trying to get your head around Filter context in DAX? I watched a video from the sqlbi.com guys and it explained it well. I thought I could add an Excel flavour to it.
Creating a Unique Dynamic List in Excel
A Power Query technique
There are a couple of techniques to automate a unique list of items in Excel. I have covered them in previous blog posts (see links below). I thought I would describe how to use Power Query to create a dynamic unique list.
Adam Saxton - Microsoft
2017-06-12
2017-06-12
An Avo Chart
I wonder if we can get one of these on Power BI?
Saw this on the website below and liked it – I also like Avocados.
Avocado article on the ABC site
David Iseminger - Microsoft
2017-03-29
2017-03-29
If you are into statistics then you probably already know about the R language – but if you don’t it may be worth looking at.
It is open source code that is built to handle statistics and big data. It has some limitations when used with Power BI but it can be used on its own.
This article looks at using visuals created with R in Power BI.
DAX is the function and query language of PowerPivot and PowerBI. It has been around for a while, but it didn’t really have many editing tools until DAX Studio came around.
DAX Studio has been created by the SQLBI.com guys – the legends in PowerBI.
I saw a demo today at the Perth Modern Excel User Group at Microsoft Perth – its great.
Whilst it is a powerful editor, it is not just a code editor.
There are lots of options to allow you to optimise your DAX code. Lots of output options as well.
You can test and see how long it takes to run your DAX commands.
If you regularly use DAX in Power BI or PowerPivot then DAX Studio is a must have.
Chris Webb
2017-04-11
2017-04-11
Chris Webb’s BI website is a great resource on Power BI, DAX and Power Query and Power Pivot
This post shows how to hack DAX to display characters. Opens up some new possibilities.
Gilbert Quevauvilliers
2017-04-11
2017-04-11
Compare the offerings of the Free vs Pro versions of Power BI.
The Pro version costs about AUD10 – 15 a month.
Thanks to Gilbert Quevauvilliers for creating the infographic + sharing.
Matt Allington
2017-04-04
2017-04-04
A free Excel template that can
- create a PivotTable linked to your data model
- show you the memory usage of your model
- plus a listing and a definition of the measures you are using
“Without any announcement, latest #powerbi desktop fixed time intelligence for non-contiguous selection of dates in #dax”
@marcorus
2017-04-07
2017-04-07
2017-04-03
Some great tips on language usage with DAX and the M language in Power Query with examples and explanations.
You can download pdfs.
2017-04-03
Ability to connect to the Power BI dataset and the ability to create a Query based on an example column. Interesting times ahead.
Quick measures also added.
Power Query (Get & Transform) uses the M language to allow you to customise and build in flexibility to your queries.
Currently writing the M language is tricky to write. It is case sensitive and there is no built-in help to assist you using the language.
Apparently Microsoft is working on creating an M editor, but there is no time line on when it will be ready.
This article takes you through some steps to create your own editor using Notepad ++.
If you use Power Query a lot then this may be worthwhile.
2017-03-06
There is a new Matrix Visual report with more options. It has a separate icon so you can compare to the existing Matrix.
The new Numeric Range slicer looks interesting too.
All the Power BI whitepapers in one place.