1.

Getting Data

1. What are the main data sources that Power BI can connect to?
o Power BI supports multiple data sources, including relational databases (SQL
Server, MySQL, Oracle), cloud-based services (Azure, Google Sheets), files
(Excel, CSV, JSON), APIs, and web sources. It also integrates with Microsoft
services like SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Power Apps. This flexibility
allows users to import data from various business applications and external
sources.
2. What is the difference between importing data and DirectQuery?
o Import mode loads data into Power BI, enabling fast performance but
requiring scheduled refreshes to update data. DirectQuery, on the other hand,
does not store data in Power BI but queries the data source in real time.
DirectQuery is useful for large datasets and up-to-date reporting but may have
performance limitations depending on query complexity.
3. How do you connect Power BI to an SQL database?
o

In Power BI Desktop, go to "Get Data" "SQL Server Database" Enter the server name and da

4. What are Dataflows in Power BI?

o Dataflows are a way to create reusable ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)
processes within the Power BI service. They allow data preparation, cleaning,
and storage in Azure Data Lake, making the data available for multiple reports
and dashboards. Dataflows help in centralizing data transformation, reducing
redundancy, and improving efficiency.
5. How do you connect to a web data source in Power BI?
o

Click "Get Data" Select "Web" Enter the URL of the web page or API. Power BI will extrac

6. What is an ODBC connection in Power BI?

o ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a standard protocol that allows Power
BI to connect to databases that do not have a built-in connector. Users
configure an ODBC driver for the database and use Power BI’s ODBC option
to establish the connection. This is useful for legacy systems and custom
databases.
7. What is Incremental Refresh in Power BI?
o Incremental Refresh enables Power BI to update only new or changed data
instead of refreshing the entire dataset. This improves performance, reduces
processing time, and minimizes data transfer. It is particularly useful for large
datasets that require frequent updates.
8. What is a Common Data Model (CDM) in Power BI?
o The Common Data Model (CDM) is a standardized schema for organizing and
structuring data across multiple applications. It ensures consistency in data
 storage and improves interoperability between Power BI, Azure, and
Microsoft Dataverse. CDM helps businesses maintain a unified data structure
across platforms.
9. Can you connect Power BI to real-time streaming data?
o Yes, Power BI supports real-time streaming datasets, allowing users to
visualize live data. This can be achieved using Azure Stream Analytics,
PubNub, or Power BI’s push datasets. Real-time dashboards update
automatically as new data flows in, making them ideal for monitoring IoT
devices, stock markets, and live transactions.
10. What is a Composite Model in Power BI?
o A Composite Model allows a combination of Import and DirectQuery mode
within the same dataset. This provides flexibility by enabling users to store
frequently used data in Import mode while keeping large tables in DirectQuery
mode. It enhances performance while maintaining access to real-time data.

11. What is the difference between API-based data connections and database
connections in Power BI?

● API-based connections retrieve data from web services, often in JSON or XML
format, requiring transformation before use. Database connections, such as SQL
Server or MySQL, access structured data stored in relational databases. APIs provide
real-time access but may have rate limits, while database connections offer structured
queries with optimized performance.

12. How can Power BI connect to SharePoint data?

Power BI connects to SharePoint lists and document libraries via "Get Data" "SharePoint Online List

13. What are the advantages of using Azure SQL Database with Power BI?

● Azure SQL Database offers scalability, automatic backups, and high availability,
making it ideal for cloud-based analytics in Power BI. With DirectQuery mode, users
can access real-time data without frequent imports, ensuring reports are always up to
date.

14. Can Power BI connect to multiple data sources in a single report?

● Yes, Power BI allows users to connect to multiple data sources simultaneously. Using
Power Query, data from different sources (Excel, SQL, APIs, etc.) can be combined
and transformed into a unified dataset. Relationships between different sources enable
comprehensive analysis.
 15. What are Linked Tables in Power BI?

● Linked Tables allow users to connect Power BI directly to Excel tables, keeping the
data synchronized. Changes in Excel are reflected in Power BI upon refresh,
providing a convenient way to manage smaller datasets.

2. Preparing Data

16. What is Power Query and how does it help in data preparation?
o Power Query is Power BI’s built-in ETL tool that allows users to connect,
clean, transform, and shape data before loading it into the report. It provides a
user-friendly interface to perform data transformations such as removing
duplicates, renaming columns, filtering rows, and merging datasets. Power
Query ensures that data is clean and structured for effective analysis.
17. How do you handle missing values in Power BI?
o Power BI provides multiple options for handling missing data. Users can
replace null values with specific values using the "Replace Values" function,
fill down or up using the "Fill" option, or remove incomplete rows entirely.
Additionally, conditional transformations can be applied to handle missing
values dynamically.
18. What are calculated columns in Power BI?
o Calculated columns are user-defined columns created using Data Analysis
Expressions (DAX). They are computed at the row level and stored in the data
model, making them useful for categorization or adding new information to
existing tables. However, they increase the data model size, so they should be
used only when necessary.
19. How is a measure different from a calculated column?
o A calculated column is a static value stored in the dataset, whereas a measure
is dynamic and recalculates based on the applied filters. Measures use DAX
formulas to compute aggregations like SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT
dynamically, ensuring optimized performance for large datasets.
20. What is data profiling in Power BI?
o Data profiling helps analyze data quality by providing insights into null
values, distinct values, distribution, and column statistics. It helps identify
inconsistencies, missing data, and data patterns, ensuring that data is clean and
reliable before visualization.
21. What is a Data Model in Power BI?
o A Data Model is a structured representation of tables, relationships, and
calculations used in Power BI. It enables efficient querying and data
visualization by organizing data into a logical structure. Good data modeling
practices, such as using star schema, improve report performance.
22. What is a star schema and why is it recommended for Power BI?
o A star schema consists of a central fact table (containing numerical values)
connected to dimension tables (descriptive attributes like date, product, or
location). It optimizes data storage, speeds up queries, and enhances
performance compared to flat or transactional models.
23. What is row-level transformation in Power Query?
 o Row-level transformation involves modifying individual rows in a dataset.
Common transformations include filtering out unnecessary rows, replacing
null values, sorting data, and applying conditional formatting. These
transformations ensure clean and structured data before loading it into Power
BI.
24. What is the purpose of the Merge Queries function?
o Merge Queries allows users to combine data from multiple tables based on a
common key. It performs SQL-like join operations such as inner, left, right, or
full join, enabling users to create a consolidated dataset for reporting.
25. How do you create relationships between tables in Power BI?
o Relationships are defined using primary and foreign keys in "Manage
Relationships." Power BI supports one-to-many and many-to-many
relationships, ensuring that data is properly linked for analysis. The
relationship type determines how filters and aggregations behave across tables.

26. What is Append Queries in Power BI?

● Append Queries combines multiple tables with similar structures into a single table. It
is useful when merging datasets from different periods or sources (e.g., combining
sales data from multiple regions into one consolidated table).

27. What are the key differences between Merge and Append in Power BI?

● Merge combines tables based on a matching key (similar to SQL JOIN), whereas
Append stacks data from multiple tables into a single table. Merge is used for
relational joins, while Append is used for concatenating data.

28. What is the purpose of the "Remove Duplicates" function in Power BI?

● This function removes duplicate rows based on selected columns, ensuring data
integrity and preventing redundancy. It is commonly used in cleansing datasets before
analysis.

29. How can you create a custom column in Power Query?

A custom column is created using M language expressions in Power Query. By selecting "Add Colum

30. What is the significance of a surrogate key in data modeling?

● A surrogate key is an artificial unique identifier (usually a numeric ID) assigned to a

table when a natural key is absent or inefficient. It improves performance by
simplifying relationships between tables, especially in a star schema.
3. Visualization

31. What are the key chart types in Power BI?

● Power BI offers a variety of chart types, including bar charts, line charts, pie charts,
scatter plots, tree maps, and maps. Bar and column charts are used for comparisons,
line charts for trends over time, pie charts for proportions, and scatter plots for
relationships between numerical variables. Choosing the right visualization depends
on the nature of the data and the insights needed.

32. What is a slicer in Power BI?

● A slicer is a visual filtering tool that allows users to interactively filter data in a report.
Slicers provide a user-friendly way to refine reports based on specific values, such as
selecting a date range, product category, or region. Unlike filters, slicers are visible in
the report and can be controlled by users dynamically.

33. How does a drill-through feature work in Power BI?

● Drill-through allows users to click on a data point in a report and navigate to a

detailed report page that provides deeper insights into that specific value. It helps in
analyzing data at multiple levels, such as going from a summary of sales to detailed
sales by product. Drill-through is configured using filters and dedicated drill-through
pages in Power BI.

34. What is a KPI visual in Power BI?

● A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) visual is used to track performance against

business targets. It displays actual values, target values, and trend indicators (like an
upward or downward arrow). KPI visuals help organizations monitor their key
metrics, such as revenue growth, customer satisfaction, or production efficiency, at a
glance.

35. What is a hierarchy in Power BI?

A hierarchy is a structured way of organizing data into multiple levels, such as Year Quarter Month

36. What is conditional formatting in Power BI?

● Conditional formatting allows users to apply dynamic color coding, data bars, or icons
to tables and charts based on predefined rules. For example, sales figures below a
 threshold can be highlighted in red, while high-performing regions can be shown in
green. This enhances data interpretation by drawing attention to important insights.

37. What is a matrix visual in Power BI?

● A matrix visual is similar to a pivot table in Excel, displaying data in a tabular format
with row and column headers. It supports drill-down functionality, subtotals, and
hierarchical views, making it useful for presenting financial reports, performance
summaries, and multi-dimensional data.

38. What is the role of bookmarks in Power BI?

● Bookmarks allow users to save specific views of a report, including filters, slicer
selections, and visual states. They enable interactive storytelling by allowing users to
switch between different report perspectives without modifying the underlying data.
Bookmarks are often used in Power BI presentations and guided analytics
experiences.

39. How do you add a trendline in Power BI?

● A trendline helps identify patterns in data over time. To add a trendline, select a line
or scatter chart, go to the Analytics pane, and enable the trendline option. Power BI
supports different types of trendlines, such as linear and exponential, to highlight
long-term trends and seasonality in data.

40. What are Power BI themes?

● Themes allow users to apply a consistent color scheme, font style, and formatting
across all visuals in a report. Power BI provides built-in themes, and users can also
create custom JSON-based themes to align with corporate branding. Themes improve
report aesthetics and readability.

41. How does a waterfall chart work in Power BI?

● A waterfall chart shows how an initial value increases or decreases through a

sequence of positive and negative changes. It is useful for tracking financial
performance (e.g., revenue breakdown) or identifying the impact of sequential events
on a total value.

42. What is the advantage of using a stacked bar chart instead of a clustered bar
chart?

● A stacked bar chart shows the total composition of a category and how each segment
contributes, making it ideal for analyzing distributions. A clustered bar chart, on the
other hand, separates categories for easier comparison between individual
components.
 43. What is the difference between a card visual and a multi-row card?

● A card visual displays a single key metric (e.g., total sales), while a multi-row card
shows multiple values in a list format. Cards are used for highlighting KPIs, whereas
multi-row cards are useful for showing summarized data for multiple categories.

44. How does tooltip customization enhance Power BI reports?

● Custom tooltips allow users to display additional details when hovering over a visual.
Instead of showing default values, custom tooltips can include charts, images, or extra
insights, improving interactivity and user experience.

45. What is Smart Narrative in Power BI?

● Smart Narrative is an AI-powered feature that automatically generates text-based

insights from a visual or dataset. It helps in storytelling by summarizing trends,
comparisons, and key takeaways dynamically.

4. Publishing Data and RLS

46. How do you publish a report to Power BI Service?

● To publish a report, click "Publish" in Power BI Desktop, sign in to Power BI Service,

and select a workspace. Once published, the report becomes accessible online,
allowing users to share, schedule refreshes, and create dashboards based on the report.

47. What is a workspace in Power BI Service?

● A workspace is a collaborative environment in Power BI Service where teams can

store, share, and manage reports, datasets, and dashboards. There are two types: My
Workspace (personal) and shared workspaces (team collaboration). Workspaces help
organize content and control access levels among users.

48. How do you share a Power BI dashboard with others?

● Dashboards can be shared through Power BI Service by clicking the "Share" button
and entering the email addresses of recipients. Users can also embed dashboards in
Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or web applications. Sharing permissions can be
controlled to restrict or allow access to underlying data.

49. What is Row-Level Security (RLS) in Power BI?

● RLS is a security feature that restricts data access at the user level based on assigned
roles. It ensures that users see only the data relevant to them. For example, a sales
manager may see data for their region only. RLS is configured using DAX filters in
Power BI Desktop and applied in Power BI Service.

50. How do you implement RLS in Power BI?

● In Power BI Desktop, go to "Manage Roles" under the Modeling tab and define DAX
filters to restrict data access. After publishing to Power BI Service, assign users to
these roles to enforce security. RLS helps maintain confidentiality in multi-user
environments.

51. What is a gateway in Power BI?

● A gateway is a bridge that enables Power BI Service to access on-premises data

sources securely. It ensures that Power BI reports using SQL Server, Excel, or other
local databases can refresh their data without exposing the database directly to the
cloud.

52. What is the difference between a personal and enterprise gateway?

● A personal gateway is used for individual data refreshes and does not support multi-
user access. An enterprise gateway, on the other hand, allows multiple users to
connect to on-premises data sources and schedule automatic refreshes for shared
reports.

53. How do you schedule data refresh in Power BI?

● In Power BI Service, go to Dataset settings and configure a scheduled refresh

frequency. You can set the refresh interval (e.g., daily, hourly) and specify credentials
for the data source. Scheduled refresh ensures that reports always reflect the latest
data.

53. Can Power BI reports be embedded in web applications?

● Yes, Power BI reports can be embedded in web applications using the Power BI
REST API or iframe embedding. This allows businesses to integrate interactive
reports into their websites, portals, or internal dashboards.

54. What is a paginated report in Power BI?

● A paginated report is a report designed for printing or detailed tabular views. Unlike
interactive Power BI reports, paginated reports can handle large amounts of data and
support precise formatting for PDFs and printed documents.

55. What is Power BI Premium?

● Power BI Premium provides dedicated cloud capacity, enabling better performance,
larger dataset sizes, and AI-powered insights. It includes features like paginated
reports, dataflows, and unlimited data refreshes, making it suitable for enterprise-scale
deployments.

56. What is Data Export in Power BI?

● Power BI allows users to export report visuals and underlying data to Excel, CSV, or
PDF formats. This is useful for sharing insights with non-Power BI users or
conducting further offline analysis.

57. What is an app in Power BI?

● A Power BI app is a packaged collection of reports and dashboards that can be shared
with users in an organized way. Apps help distribute content in a structured format,
ensuring that end users access only relevant reports.

58. How does Power BI integrate with Excel?

● Power BI can connect to Excel files, import tables, and use PivotTables for analysis.
Additionally, Excel users can publish their workbooks to Power BI Service and use
Excel Online to view live Power BI datasets.

59. What is Auto Refresh in Power BI Service?

● Auto Refresh updates reports automatically at specified intervals, ensuring that real-
time dashboards display the latest data without manual intervention.

60. What is the difference between a dashboard and a report in Power BI?

● A report consists of multiple pages with interactive visuals, while a dashboard is a

single-page summary with pinned visuals from multiple reports. Dashboards provide
a high-level overview, whereas reports offer detailed analysis and drill-through
capabilities.

61. How do you configure Power BI reports for mobile view?

● Power BI provides a mobile layout editor where users can rearrange visuals for
optimized viewing on smartphones. This ensures a seamless user experience across
different devices.

62. What are sensitivity labels in Power BI?

● Sensitivity labels classify and protect confidential data within reports. They enforce
security policies, restrict sharing, and integrate with Microsoft Information Protection
to prevent unauthorized access.
 63. How does Power BI Premium per user (PPU) differ from Power BI Pro?

● Power BI Premium per user (PPU) provides advanced features like AI-driven
analytics, paginated reports, and larger dataset capacities, whereas Power BI Pro is
limited to basic sharing and collaboration features. PPU is ideal for enterprises
needing more powerful analytics.

64. What is deployment pipeline in Power BI?

● A deployment pipeline allows users to manage report development across different

environments (Development, Test, Production). It streamlines updates, testing, and
version control, ensuring a smooth rollout of Power BI content.

65. What is the difference between Static RLS and Dynamic RLS in Power BI?

Static Row-Level Security (RLS) restricts data access using predefined filters based
on fixed values. For example, a sales report may have separate roles for "North
Region" and "South Region," where each user is assigned to a specific role manually.
This approach works well for small datasets with a limited number of roles.

Dynamic RLS, on the other hand, uses user credentials (such as email or user ID) to
filter data dynamically. Instead of manually assigning roles, a lookup table (security
table) is created, mapping users to regions or departments. When a user logs in, Power
BI automatically filters the data based on their assigned access rights. Dynamic RLS
is more scalable and flexible, especially for organizations with frequent role changes

SCENARIO BASED DAX

12 scenario-based DAX examples for Power BI, each framed in a

business context to show why the DAX measure is needed and how it
adds value:

1. Year-to-Date (.) Sales

Scenario: The Finance Director of a retail chain wants to monitor

how well the company is performing financially this year compared to
previous years. She needs a visual in the Power BI dashboard that
automatically adds up all sales from January 1st of the current year to
today, regardless of what day the report is viewed.

YTD Sales = TOTALYTD(SUM(Sales[Amount]),

Sales[Date])

2. Sales Growth Percentage

Scenario: A company is preparing for its quarterly board meeting.

One key metric for the board is the percentage growth in sales
compared to the same period last year. The Business Analyst is tasked
with showing how much sales have increased or decreased, expressed
as a percentage, to reflect performance improvement or decline.

VAR
LastYearSales =
CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Amount]),
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR('Date'[Date])
)
RETURN
LastYearSales

Sales Growth % =
DIVIDE(
 [Total Sales] - [LastYearSales,
[LastYearSales],
0
)

3. Running Total (Cumulative Sales)

Scenario: A regional sales manager wants to understand how sales

are accumulating over the course of the financial year. This helps in
identifying patterns such as early peaks, mid-year slumps, or year-end
pushes. A running total or cumulative sales view makes it easier to
spot such trends over time.
Running Sales =
CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Amount]),
FILTER(
ALL(Sales[Date]),
Sales[Date] <= MAX(Sales[Date])
))

4. Last Year Sales

Scenario: The CFO needs to prepare a report comparing each

month’s sales to the same month in the previous year. This year-on-
year analysis helps in understanding if growth is consistent, if any
seasonal events caused fluctuations, or if new strategies have yielded
positive outcomes.
Last Year Sales =
CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Amount]),
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR(Sales[Date])
)
5. Customer Count

Scenario: The marketing department wants to evaluate the

effectiveness of a loyalty program launched six months ago. They
want to know whether the number of unique customers making
purchases has increased since the launch of the program. A distinct
count of customers provides this insight.
Customer Count = DISTINCTCOUNT(Sales[CustomerID])

6. Top-Selling Product

Scenario: The product development team is trying to decide which

product should be bundled in the next promotional offer. They need to
identify the product that has generated the highest total revenue over
the past quarter. This can also help in inventory planning and stock
replenishment.
Top Product =
TOPN(1, SUMMARIZE(Sales, Products[ProductName], "Total",
SUM(Sales[Amount])), [Total], DESC)

7. Average Sales per Day

Scenario: The operations team wants to determine the average

amount of sales per business day. This helps in workforce scheduling,
supply chain planning, and setting realistic daily targets for the sales
team. An average smooths out fluctuations caused by weekends and
holidays.
Avg Sales per Day =
DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]),
DISTINCTCOUNT(Sales[Date]))
8. Profit Calculation

Scenario: A small business owner wants to see not just revenue but
how much actual profit the company is making after subtracting costs.
This DAX measure is used to derive net profitability, which is
essential for assessing the financial health of the business.
Profit = SUM(Sales[Revenue]) - SUM(Sales[Cost])

9. Sales Target Achievement

Scenario: Each sales representative is assigned a monthly sales target.

The sales manager needs a dashboard that clearly indicates which reps
have achieved their targets and which ones have not, so that coaching
and incentives can be managed effectively.
Target Met = IF(SUM(Sales[Amount]) >= Sales[Target],
"Yes", "No")

10. Filter Sales by Region

Scenario: A company operates in multiple regions, and the South

Zone VP wants to view a separate KPI card in Power BI showing total
sales from only the South region. This allows region-specific analysis
without the need to manually apply filters each time.
South Sales =
CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Amount]),
Sales[Region] = "South"
)
11. Days Since Last Purchase

Scenario: The customer retention team wants to re-engage inactive

customers by sending personalized offers. They need to know how
long it has been since each customer last made a purchase. This
measure calculates the number of days since a customer’s most recent
transaction.
Days Since Last Purchase =
DATEDIFF(
MAX(Sales[Date]),
TODAY(),
DAY
)

12. Current Month Sales

Scenario: The sales head wants a KPI that updates automatically to

show sales for the current month only, without having to filter
manually. This real-time view helps track progress against monthly
targets and plan mid-month corrective actions.
Current Month Sales =
CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Amount]),
MONTH(Sales[Date]) = MONTH(TODAY()),
YEAR(Sales[Date]) = YEAR(TODAY())
)