Power BI Interview Questions

What is Power BI Service?

Power BI service is a cloud-based business analytics service that enable any one to
visualize and data analysis will generator speed efficient and understanding. It will give a
single view of your most critical data.
Power BI support wide support wide range of data sources. Power BI has several
components that helps users created and share data reports.

What are the Limitations of Power BI?

Schedule refresh is not there. We can’t share it with anyone, through Power BI desktop

What is Power Pivot?

It will allow us to connect multiple sources. We can load the data. We
can create relationship between the data and here we will create measure.

What is Power View?

With the help of power view, we can create visualization to understand business

What is Power Query?

It will perform transformations, SQL operations can be performed in
power bi with query. Direct query is a direct connection to data source, data
will not be stored in power bi model.
Power bi will be a visualizations layer, then query the data from data source
every time (Table name, Column Name, Relationship) but not the data.
Example: - SQL SERVER, SAP HANA, AZURA SQL DATABASE, AMAZON REDSHIFT

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Name some Commonly used tasks in the query editor?
1. Connect to data
2. Shape and combine data
3. Group rows
4. Pivot columns
5. Create custom columns
6. Query formulas

What are the components of Power Bi?

Components of Power BI are

Power Query: - In power query we can be able to do transformation like

changing data types, deleting duplicates etc.
Power Pivot: - In Power pivot will do modelling and will connect to different
sources and can view the data.
Power View: - In Power view we can be able to generate the visuals.
Power Map: - Lets you create geospatial representation of your data.
Power Q & A: - Lets you use natural language to get answer to query.

What are the building blocks of Power BI?

Following are the building blocks of power BI
Visualization: - Visualization is a chart, graphs or similar visual representation of data.
Dataset: - A dataset is the group of data used to create a visualization, such as a
column of sales figures. Dataset can be combined and filtered from different source
using built in connectors
Reports: - A report is a group of visualization on one or more pages
Dashboard: - Dashboard is a collection of tiles.
Tile: - Tile is single visual pin from report.

What is data size in power BI?

The file size limit is 1GB in PRO and 10GB for premium members/users.

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What is Direct Query?
Direct query is a direct connection to data source. Data will not be stored
in power BI model. Power BI will be a visualization layer, then query the data
from data source every time. Power BI only store metadata of table (Table
Name, Column name, relationship……) but not the data.
Example: - SQL SERVER, SAP HANA, AZURE SQL database, Amazon Redshift

How many records we can see in your power bi desktop.

1 million
What are the difference sources that you worked on?
Excel, SQL Server, CSV Files and Azure SQL Server.
What is dashboard?
A dashboard is a collections tile. Tile is nothing but a visual pin from the
report
Can we delete datasets in pro from works space?
Yes
What is the power BI services?
It can do all admin activities of power bi, it is a web based server.
1. We can schedule refresh
2. We can create dashboard
3. We can share the reports
4. We can apply securities
What is Relationship? How many types of relationship?
• When you import multiple tables, you are going to do some analysis using data
from all those tables.
• Relationship between those table are necessary in order to accurate calculate
result and display the correct information in your reports.
• Power BI desktop makes creating those relationship easy. The auto detect feature
can do it for you.
• If you query two or more table at the sometime, when the data is loaded, power
bi desktop attempts to find and create relationship for you.
• Cardinality, cross filter direction and active properties are automatically set
Types of Relationships
1. Active Relationship.
2. De-active Relationship.

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Active Relationship: -
This means the relationship service as the active, default relationship.
Where there is more than one relationship provides a way of power bi desktop to
automatically create visualizations that include both tables.

What is Cardinality?
The cardinality of the relationship means having unique or multiple
instances per value for the joining field between two tables.
Cardinality defined by the relationship. Cardinality refers to the relationship
between two tables. Cardinality can be of 4 types
1. Many to One
2. One to Many
3. One to One
4. Mana to Many
The cardinality refers to the uniqueness of a columns in a table. The columns
with all unique values would be having the high cardinality and the columns
with all duplicates values would be having the low cardinality.

What is Bi-Directional Cross filter/ What is Cross Filter?

Cross filtering is nothing but relationship between two tables. Cross
filtering, filters the data in two ways
1. Single
2. Both
Single: - If we have parent and child table If I can apply single direction filter
the data in parent table automatically it will effect /filter the child table
If I can filter the data in child table, it will not filter the parent table.

Both: - if we apply both directions filtering then the data get changes in both the tables
even if we modify in single table.

Edit Relationship →Cross Filter Direction →Select both and Apply security
filter in both directions.

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Can we delete report/dataset from workspace?
Yes, Once the app gets published, we cannot delete it until unless we un-publish the
app.

Is dataset and report different?

At desktop level both are same but, in the service, we can see at different levels.

What is Dashboard?
A dashboard is a collections tile. Tile is nothing but a visual pin from the report

Can we create a dashboard from visual from multiple pages with the report
or multiple report?
Yes, it is possible

What is Dataset?
A data set is a collection of related, discrete items of related data that may be accessed
individually or in combination or managed as a whole entity.

Can we import data direct power BI service?

Yes (Through get data)

What is difference b/w Dataset and Power BI dataset?

No, both are same.

Can connect direct query excel?

Yes

Can we get the data through need to SQL Script?

Yes

What are Reports?

A power BI report is a series of visualizations, filters, and static elements on a canvas.
Power BI reports are saved as a single PBIX file and connect to a single dataset.

What are the different types of sharing we have?

By App, Through Content packs, By email
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How can you import local images into power BI desktop?
Using BASE64 code we will convert to local image to binary code then we will use
images in required reports.
Go to Get data→ select More Options and Choose Folder option→Give path of Image
folder→ Click Edit
And Select Invoke Custom functions and select Given Folder Name (It will convert image
to BASE64 code as separate column)→Close and apply. Than Change data category
(above created column)→ Image URL

Difference between Power BI Pro and premium

What is RLS?
Row level security is the ability to filter content based on a user's role. Both Direct
Query and data imported to the model support RLS
Note: If the members of the group associated to the Workspace have edit
permissions, row level security in Power BI will be ignored.
SSAS: SQL Server Analysis Services implements RLS on its own. SSAS requires
the enterprise gateway to implement LiveConnection and RLS. RLS is supported by using
EffectiveUserName on the connection from Power BI to the on-premises SSAS instance

Using the username() or userprincipalname() DAX function?

UserName() will return a user in the format of DOMAIN\User
UserPrincipalName() will return a user in the format of [email protected] the
Power BI service, username() and userprincipalname() will both return the user's User
Principal Name (UPN). This looks similar to an email address.

Can I use RLS to limit the columns or measures accessible by my users?

No. If a user has access to a particular row of data, they can see all
the columns of data for that row.
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Does RLS let me hide detailed data but give access to data summarized in
visuals?
No, you secure individual rows of data, but users can always see either the details or the
summarized data.

Creating Static RLS?

Security model doesn't change dynamically for each logged in user
Create Roles in Power BI Desktop--> Test Roles in Desktop
Publish to Power BI Service ---------> Add Users to Power BI Service

Creating Dynamic RLS?

Static RLS is about creating roles manually, If we have too many Roles to create Static
RLS is not an option. Thus comes the Dynamic RLS. Example: if you want to restrict the
user based on the state then we need to create Role for each state.

What if I had previously created roles and rules for a dataset in the
Power BI service? Will they still work if I do nothing?
Answer: No. Visuals will not render properly. You will have to re-create the roles and
rules within Power BI Desktop and then publish to the Power BI service.

What is visual?
A visual is a graphic representation of the data in your model.

Can I create these roles for Analysis Services data sources?

Answer: You can if you imported the data into Power BI Desktop. If you are
using a live connection, you will not be able to configure RLS within the Power
BI service. This is defined within the Analysis Services model on-premises.

Can I use RLS to limit the columns or measures accessible by my users?

Answer: No. If a user has access to a particular row of data, they can see all the
columns of data for that row.

Does RLS let me hide detailed data but give access to data summarized in
visuals?
Answer: No, you secure individual rows of data, but users can always see either
the details or the summarized data.
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Can I use a custom URL as a hyperlink in a table or matrix?
No. You can use a link icon. If you need custom text for your hyperlinks
and your list of URLs is short, consider using a text box instead.
What is Reports?
A collection of visuals in one Power BI Desktop file is called a report. A report can have
one or more pages just like an Excel file can have one or more worksheets.

Can we delete datasets in pro from works space?

Yes
Can we create a dashboard from visuals from multiple pages within the
report?
Yes, we can create a dashboard from multiple pages.

Can we create a dashboard from visuals from multiple reports?

Yes, we can create a dashboard from visuals from multiple reports.

Can we create reports in service?

Yes, we can create reports in service.

Can we create Calculated columns and measures in Service?

No, we cannot create calculated columns and measures in service

50. What are the difference between filters?

Filter is used to filter the data statically at developer level, and share limited
data to the users by using filters we can restrict the data.
There are three types of filters are here
1. Visual Level Filter
2. Report Level Filter
3. Page Level Filter
Visual Level Filter: - This Visual level filter applies to a single visual on a report
page.
Report Level Filter: - Report level filter applies to all pages in the report or this
filter works on the entire report. It will work on all pages and all visualizations.
Page Level Filter: - Page level filter applies all the visual on the report page.
This filter works at reports page level. Difference pages in the same report can
have different page level filter
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Difference between Import, Direct and Live?
Import: - Data is inside the Power bi, Metadata is inside the power bi.
Data (SQL Server) (Inside) + Metadata (Inside)= Import Data. When dataset is
small then will use import.
Direct: - Data is in outside the power BI, Meta data is inside the power BI
Data (SQL Server) (Outside) + Metadata (Inside)= Direct connection. When
dataset is large
Connect Live: - Data is outside the power BI, Metadata is outside Power BI
Data (SQL Server) (Outside) + Metadata (Outside)= Live connection
We don’t have relationship and model.
Difference between the Append and Merge?
APPEND: - It is similar to Union all, It will not remove any duplicates. Append is
used to combine two similar queries into a single query. It is increases rows in
a column.
Example: - If we have Two table called T1 and T2. We are Append these two
table. See result Append table (output table).

MERGE: - It will work like a join. When I have two difference queries by using
common columns we will merge into single query.
Example: - If we have Two table called T1 and T2. We are Merge these two
table. See result Merge table (output table). This merge table increases
columns.

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What is gateway? How many types? How it works?
Gateway creates the connection power BI cloud-based analysis technology and
the data source located on premises. Gateway acts as Bridge between the On
Premises dashboard and power BI service.
There are two types of Gateways
1. Personal Mode
2. On- Premises
Personal Mode: -
• It allows one user to connect to source and cannot be shared with others.
• Power BI services supported
• You cannot use it in a team development scenario
• Multiple developers cannot leverage this Gateways
On-Premises: -
• It allows multiple users to connect to multiple on premises dashboard and can be
shared with others
• It will support import, direct query, and Live connections
• Central data source management
Settings→ Manage Gateway→ we can see Gateway on left side→to that
gateway add data source details→Add source setting→ Add data source,
Give source type, UI, Pass→ Add.
Slicer and Sync Slicer
Slicer: - Slicer is used to filter data dynamically. It will work on single page.
Example: - I have different visuals in one page but I want to filter England
only.

Sync Slicer: -Sync Slicer is used to filter data dynamically. It will work data on multiple
pages.
Examples: - For example, if I have 6 different pages and I want to filter data in ALLSELECT
page and 6rd pages at that time we use sync slicer.

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What are Bookmarks.
Bookmark are used to save the current state or current position in a report for separate
pages.
Example: - For example, I have 3 pages in a report, and I want to see page3 as
first page at that time we need to add page3 in the bookmarks as first page.

What is New Group?

New group is used to combine some difference set of information into a single
information

Example: If we have A,B,C and D cities in a charts, if I need to combine A&B

cities in a single bar at that time we will use New group option.
GO TO FIELD—>RIGHT CLICK ON TABLE Select New Group
How can you create virtual table with DAX functions?
1. CALCULATE
2. SUMMARIZE
3. VALUES
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What is the Aggregation DAX functions?
1. SUM
2. MIN
3. COUNT
4. MAX
5. DIVIDE
What is the iterating DAX function?
1. SUMX
2. COUNTX
3. MINX
4. MAXX
5. FILTERX
6. RANKX
7. AVERAGEX
8. ADDCOLUMNS.
Can you change the column data dynamically?
we can do through use Parameter
Go to Edit Query→create New Parameter fill necessary→ ok

User acceptance test?

BI Testing is the process of validating the data, format, and performance
of the reports, subject areas, and security aspects of the BI Projects. BI Testing
is key for improving the quality of the BI Reports and user adoption. Testing of
BI projects are different from traditional web application testing since the
content of the reports is automatically generated by the BI tool based on the BI
tool metadata.
Can we import data directly to power bi service?
Yes, we can import data directly to power bi service by using get data. By using get data
in service we can import data from the files as well as from database present in the
cloud like azure sql server, SQL server analysis service (SSAS) etc.

Can we have direct query for Database?

Yes, we have direct query for database along with import.

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What is Parameter?
Parameter are used to make your report dynamic. Parameter are used to filter a dataset

How to implement Parameter:

1. By using parameter can filter the data before loading into power bi.
2. By using filter, we can first load the data in power bi. After that we can apply the
filter.
What are the components in power bi?
There are three components in power bi
1. Power bi desktop
2. Power bi edit query
3. Power bi services.
Difference between the CALCULATED COLUMN and Measures?

Can you what account need to creation of APP workspace?

Yes, we need to Pro account for creation of App workspace.
Explain the Term M-Language?
This is the Programming Language used in power query. It’s functional
case-sensitive language that’s like other programming languages and
easy to use.

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What are the different types of sharing in power BI?
By E-Mail: - By email providing Email we can share the data.
Through Content Pack: - Content pack is the combination of datasets, reports
and Dashboards.
Two ways we are able to sharing 1. Specific Group 2. My entire organizations.
Content pack is nothing but creating specific group of report and publish entire
organizations content pack library.
We can provide access to the specific group or entire organization.
Example:- If I have 10 reports in my projects, I want to share 10 reports to
entire organizations at that time, I will create content pack.
By App:- By using App we can provide access to specific group of people or
entire organization for specific reports, multiple reports or entire reports.
Example:- If I have 10 reports in my projects, at that time, I want to share 4, 5
or 2, reports to the users on that time I need to share entire organization at
that time I will go through App.

Different between Content pack and App’s?

When publish content pack you can select objects (dataset, reports and dashboard).
There is known choice whatever content (dataset, reports, and dashboards) in
workspace all those things we need to publish.

How to create mobile compatible reports?

First, we need to create visualizations as per the user requirement. Once reports
creation is done, then we must go view→ page layout→
Adjust the visual as per the page layout size.
Example: - I create report and publish. It will show as per the power bi service.
If I want to see the data in model at that time, it will not show properly for this
purpose we can go for mobile compatible.
How to configure power bi reports schedule refresh?
To refresh data in your power bi reports, a scheduled refresh plan must be created.
Select reports→ Right Click→ Select Manage option→ Data source fill require
credentials.
Manage→ New Schedule refresh plan → Create schedule refresh plan
Data refresh in power BI: -
Power BI must query the underlying data source, possible load the source data
into a dataset and then update any visualization in your reports or dashboard
that relay.
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What is Content Pack?
A Content pack is a readymade, predefined collection of visualizations,
dataset, dashboards, and reports using your chosen service.

Why would you use one? (Content pack)

You would use one when you want to Get up and running quickly, instead
of creating a report from scratch.

What is Edit Interaction?

Report authors can modify the visual interaction behavior such that
selections on certain visuals don't impact other visuals or only impact certain
visuals. Additionally, for the visuals set to the highlight interaction by default,
report authors can revise the interaction behavior to filter.

If I have 3 Visual in a page, If I want to filter only one visual at that time, we will
use edit interaction. Format→ edit interactions →it will show the filter icon.
We need to make it as none which ever visual we not required

How many types of interactions are there in Power BI?

The available types are - Drill down, roll up, filter, highlight and no
impact.
78. Explain Charts in power BI?
Bar Chart: Bar chart is used to display comparative analysis in the visualization
Line Chart: Line chart is used to display the time series analysis
Combo Chart: Combo chart allow you to combine a bar chart and line chart on the
same visual.
Tree Chart: It will show the data from left to right, it will show bigger measure in a
smaller size. Each measure will display in different color.
Water Fall Chart: It is used to show the change in the particular value over a given
period of time.

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What type saving power BI file?
Power BI file format is .pbix
How many types of joins in power BI?
There are four types of Joins in power BI
1. Right Join
2. Left Join
3. Inner Join
4. Full outer Join
What is Button?
The Buttons are used to pop-up of multiple pages in a report.
What is Custom Sort?
Custom sort allows you to define a specific order for displaying data. It is an easy way to
predefine your own order for displaying data.

83. Where is data stored in Power BI?

When data is ingested in Power BI, it is basically stored in Fact and Dimension Tables.
Fact Tables: The central table in a start schema of a data warehouse, a fact table stores
quantitative information for analysis and is not normalized in most cases.
Dimension Tables: It is just another table in the star schema that is used to store
attributes and dimensions that describe objects that are stored in a fact table.

What are many-to-many relationships and how can they be addressed in

Power BI?
Many to Many relationships involve a bridge or junction table reflecting the
combinations of two dimensions (e.g. doctors and patients). Either all possible
combinations or those combinations that have occurred.
Difference between RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE()?
RELATED refers to the column RELATEDTABLE() is used to reference a table on the many
side of the relationship.
A simple example is to add a new calculated column to count how many sales
there have been for each product.
= COUNTROWS(RELATEDTABLE(SalesFact))

You know RELEATEDTABLE() RETURNS A TABLE, and COUNTROWS() counts the

rows in that table. This calculated column in the products table honor the row
context.
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Mechanism used to refresh and scheduled refresh?
We did at power bi services at dataset level we used scheduled refresh.
Refresh→ on time (Manual)
Scheduled refresh→ Automatically
We will do min 30minitus per once but limit is 8 times per day in pro and 48
times per day in premium.

What are the issues faced in your project?

1. We have on issue with the large dataset we polling.
2. We tacked issue by creating the aggregate tables in the Azure SQL Server.
3. We configured the aggregate table in power bi using manage aggregation. So,
then the user click on the details reports it will hit the base table for higher level
information it will hit aggregate table.

What are the roles and Responsibility?

Creating reports, sitting up the security, cleaning the data, making sure
the report are getting refresh and share the reports and dashboards.
How can you interactive with client?
I am interactive through
1. Daily meeting (Telephonic conversions)
2. BRD( Business requirement desk)

How much time required for creating 10 measures, 10 reports and 20 or

30 visuals?
It’s all depends, If the we have the data model ready then it will take 1 to
2 weeks else 1 to 2 months.
What are the customs visual used?
1. Dot-Plot
2. Heap-Map
3. Bubble- Chart
4. Gauge
5. Double KPI’s

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What are the visuals used?
1. Card
2. Water Chart
3. Tree Maps
4. Pie Chart
5. Tables
6. KPI
7. Donut Chart
8. Clustered Chart
9. MAP’s
10.Multi row card
11.Line and stacked column chart
12.Stacked Bar Chart.

Which one u suggested for organizations. If the organization consists of

700 total users – 100 are Developer and the remaining 600 occasionally
view BI content.
The most economical deployment option would be to license Power BI Pro for the 100
users BI Developers and Power BI Premium for the 600 seeking occasional access to
view BI content.

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