Create and explore a Microsoft Power BI dashboard

Objective

In this lab you will learn how to:

• Create a dataset and report by uploading a Power BI Desktop file
• Assemble a dashboard consisting of tiles
• Use Q&A questions to create dashboard tiles
• Use existing report visualizations to create dashboard tiles
• Use new report visualizations to create dashboard tiles

Scenario

This lab is based upon the sales activities of the fictitious Tailspin Toys company.

The Tailspin Toys company:

• Represents a specialist toy sales business that sells model airplanes and helicopters to global markets
• Accumulates core sales data in a SQL Server database, and is interested to explore and discover deeper insight from this data

You are required to assemble a Power BI dashboard to deliver insights on the sales activities of the company by using an existing Power BI Desktop solution.

Virtual Machines

1. PowerBI-DC
2. PowerBI

Exercise 1 : Sign In to Power BI

In this exercise, you will sign in to the Power BI service.

1. Open Internet Explorer
   To open Internet Explorer, on the taskbar, click the Internet Explorer program shortcut.
   A personal trial account has been created for you, and it is recommended that you use this account to complete this lab.
   
2. Navigate to Power BI
   In Internet Explorer, navigate to http://powerbi.com.
   Tip: You can also use the Power BI Site Internet Explorer favorite.
   
3. Sign In to Power BI
   Click Sign In (located at the top-right corner).
   
4. Enter Credentials
   Enter the account details provided within the virtual machine environment (located at the right, in the Content tab).
   Tip: You can click the paste icon to insert the user name and password into the text boxes.
   Check the Keep Me Signed In checkbox, and then click Sign In.
   
5. Update Password
   When prompted to update the password, reenter the provided password, and then enter and confirm a new password.
   Click Update Password and Sign In.
   
6. Manage Personal Storage
   To upgrade the trial account to the Power BI Pro trial license, at the top right corner, click the Settings command (cog), and then select Manage Personal Storage.
   
7. Upgrade to Power BI Pro
   At the top-right corner, click Try Pro for Free.
   
8. Start Power BI Pro Trial
   In the dialog window, if you agree to the terms, click Start Trial.
   When the trial extension has been confirmed, click Close.
   
9. Navigate to Workspace
   To navigate to your workspace, click the Power BI banner.
   Leave the Internet Explorer window open.
   

In this exercise, you signed in to the Power BI service.

Click Continue to proceed to the next exercise.

Exercise 2 : Explore the Power BI Dashboard Interface

In this exercise, you will explore the Power BI dashboard interface, create a dashboard, and then upload a dataset and report by connect to the US Sales Analysis Power BI Desktop file. You will also define a featured question for the dataset.

1. Open Navigation Pane
   In the Internet Explorer window, to open the Navigation Pane, click the icon displayed in the screenshot.
   To maximize screen space, the Navigation Pane will often automatically collapse. In this case, simply click the icon to re-open the pane.
   
2. Review Navigation Pane
   Review the layout of the Navigation Pane (located at the left).
   The Navigation Pane is used to move between the Power BI building blocks, consisting of Dashboards, Reports, and Datasets.
   

   • A Dashboard is a single canvas that contains one or more tiles, and each tile displays a single visualization that was created from the data in the underlying datasets. Dashboards can be shared with other users.
   • A Report consists of one or more pages of visualizations (charts, graphics, etc.). Reports can be created from scratch or can be imported from Power BI Desktop files.
   • A Dataset is a resource that can be connected to, and that is used to create reports.
   
3. Create Dashboard
   To create a dashboard, in the Navigation Pane, to the right of the Dashboards group, click the plus ( + ) symbol.
   In the box, enter Tailspin Toys CY2016, and then press Enter.
   In this lab, you will work with only a single dashboard.
   
4. Locate Dashboard Name
   Notice that the dashboard opens, and that the name of the currently selected dashboard is presented in the center of the page banner.
   
5. Get Data
   In the Navigation Pane, click Get Data (located at the bottom of the pane).
   
6. Get File
   In the Get Data page, inside the Files tile, click Get.
   
7. Get Local File
   Click the Local File tile.
   
8. Upload Power BI Desktop File
   In the Choose File to Upload window, open the D:\PowerBI\Lab01\Assets\US Sales Analysis.pbix file.
   Tip: For your convenience, you can click inside the File Name box, and then click Type Text.

   D:\PowerBI\Lab01\Assets\US Sales Analysis.pbix

9. Review Upload
   When the file has uploaded, in the Navigation Pane, notice the addition of the US Sales Analysis report and US Sales Analysis dataset.
   The Power BI Desktop file contains both a model and a report. In Power BI, the model is now expressed as a dataset.
   
10. Review Report Tile
    In the Tailspin Toys CY2016 dashboard, notice the US Sales Analysis.pbix tile.
    The tile defines a relationship between the dashboard and the dataset, and will be the resource queried when asking Q&A questions. Additionally, clicking the tile can quickly enable browsing the report based on the dataset.
    
11. Configure Settings
    At the top-right corner, click the Settings command (cog), and then select Settings.
    
12. Select Datasets Tab
    Select the Datasets tab.
    
13. Select Dataset
    Ensure that the US Sales Analysis dataset is selected.
    
14. Add Featured Question
    Expand the Featured Q&A Questions (you may need to scroll down to see the group).
    Click the Add a Question link.
    
15. Enter Featured Question
    In the box, enter Show total revenue.
    Click Apply.
    

In this exercise, you explored the Power BI dashboard interface, created a dashboard, and then uploaded a dataset and report by connect to the US Sales Analysis Power BI Desktop file. You also defined a featured question for the dataset.

Click Continue to proceed to the next exercise.

Exercise 3 : Assemble a Power BI Dashboard

In this exercise, you will assemble a dashboard by creating tiles sourced from Q&A questions, and also from new and existing report visualizations.

1. Preview Dashboard Layout
   Preview the screenshot to see the dashboard layout you will create in this exercise.
   
2. Open Dashboard
   In the Navigation Pane, select the Tailspin Toys CY2016 dashboard.
3. Ask Question
   At the top-left corner click the Ask a Question About Your Data text.
   
4. Enter Question
   Select the Show total revenue suggestion.
   Featured questions not only provide suggestions, but can also fast track entering common questions.
   
5. Review Q&A Response
   Review the Q&A response.
   
6. Review Source Dataset
   Beneath the response, notice the data source, which is the US Sales Analysis dataset.
   
7. Modify Q&A Response
   In the Q&A box, modify the question to: Show total revenue in CY2016.
   Verify that the value updates to 30,747,633.
8. Pin Response
   To create a dashboard tile for this response, at the top-right corner, click Pin Visual.
   
9. Pin to Dashboard
   In the Pin to Dashboard dialog window, notice the ability to pin the visual to a new, or existing dashboard.
   Click Pin to add a tile to the existing dashboard.
10. Return to Dashboard
    To return to the dashboard, click Exit Q&A.
    
11. Review Revenue Tile
    On the dashboard page, notice the Revenue tile.
    
12. Click Tile Ellipsis
    To modify the tile title, hover the cursor over the tile, and then click the ellipsis when it appears (see screenshot).
    
13. Open Tile Details Pane
    Click the Edit Details icon (see screenshot).
    
14. Modify Tile Title
    In the Tile Details pane (located at the right), in the Title box, modify the text to YTD Revenue.
    Click Apply.
    
15. Verify Tile Design
    Verify that the title of the tile has updated to 31M.
    
16. Create Another Q&A Tile
    To return to the source question for the tile, simply click the tile.
    To produce a variation of the question, in the Q&A box, modify the question to: Show total revenue in CY2016 by month.
    
17. Modify Chart Sort Order
    In the bar chart response, notice that the months are sorted in descending revenue order.
    To sort by month, modify the question again to: Show total revenue in CY2016 by month sorted by month.
    
18. Open Visualizations Pane
    To further customize the response, expand the Visualizations pane (located at the right).
    
19. Customize Visualization Type
    To modify the visualization type, select Line Chart.
    Tip: Hovering over a visualization type icon will reveal a tooltip that describes the visualization type.
    
20. Customize Visual Format
    To modify the chart format, switch to the Format view.
    
21. Modify Data Color
    Expand the Data Colors section, and then in the Revenue dropdown list, select Purple.
    
22. Pin Response
    Pin the visualization to the existing dashboard, and then return to the dashboard.
23. Resize Tile
    To resize the new tile, hover the cursor over the tile, and then drag the bottom right corner toward the top left corner, and then release when the tile size matches the height of the other tiles, and is also three times wider than them (i.e. 1x3).
    Tip: While resizing, notice the background shadow. The shadow area indicates the tile size should you release the drag action.
    
24. Verify Dashboard Layout
    Verify that the dashboard layout looks like the screenshot.
    
25. Review Report
    In the dashboard, click the US Sales Analysis.pbix tile.
    You will now create dashboard tiles by using existing visuals from a report.
    
26. Pin Image
    Hover the cursor over the Tailspin Toys logo, and then click the Pin Visual icon (see screenshot).
    In the Pin to Dashboard dialog window, click Pin.
    
27. Set Year Slicer
    In the Year slicer (located at the left), ensure that the report page is filtered by CY2016.
    
28. Zoom Into Visual
    To zoom into the Revenue, Cost and Profitability by Month visualization, hover the cursor over the chart, and then click the Focus Mode icon (see screenshot).
    
29. Pin Chart
    Pin the Revenue, Cost and Profitability by Month visualization to the dashboard.
    To revert the chart to normal size, click Back to Report.
    
30. Pin Table
    Pin also the first table (see screenshot), located at the left, to the dashboard.
    
31. Open Dashboard
    To return to the dashboard, in the Navigation Pane, select the Tailspin Toys CY2016 dashboard.
32. Resize Logo Tile
    In the dashboard page, resize the Tailspin Toys logo tile to the smallest possible size (i.e. 1x1).
33. Arrange Dashboard Tiles
    Reposition the tiles to produce the dashboard layout as shown in the screenshot.
    
34. Zoom Into Tile
    To zoom into a tile, hover over the Revenue, Cost, Profitability tile, and then click the Focus Mode icon (see screenshot).
    
35. Return to Dashboard
    To return to the dashboard, at the top-left corner, click Exit Focus Mode.
    
36. Edit Report
    To add a new page to the report, navigate to the report again by clicking the US Sales Analysis.pbix tile.
    To edit the report, on the report menu, click Edit Report.
    
37. Insert Report Page
    To insert a new report page, at the bottom left corner, click Add Page.
    
38. Rename Report Page
    To name the page, double-click Page 1.
    Replace the text with Additional Dashboard Visuals, and then press Enter.
    Tip: For your convenience, you can select the page name text, and then click Type Text.
    

    Additional Dashboard Visuals

39. Expand Date Table
    To filter the report page, in the Fields pane, expand the Date table.
    
40. Set Page Level Filter
    From inside the Date table, drag the Year field, and drop it into the Page Level Filters well.
    
41. Set Filter Condition
    To filter the report page by a single year, check CY2016.
    All data expressed on the report page will now be filtered by CY2016.
    
42. Create Visual
    In the Fields pane, expand the Sales table, and then drag the Quantity field and drop it at the top-left corner of the canvas.
    
43. Modify Visual Type
    Modify the visual type to Card.
    
44. Arrange Report Layout
    Resize and reposition the visual as shown in the screenshot.
    
45. Verify Visual Design
    Verify that the visual looks like the screenshot.
    
46. Create Another Visual
    To create a new visual, drag the Sales | Quantity field and drop it to the right of the card visual.
    Drag the Date | Month field and drop it inside the new visual.
    Change the visual to Line Chart.
    
47. Modify Sort Order
    To modify the sort order, click the ellipsis located at the top-right corner, and then select Sort by Month.
    To sort by month ascending, click the ellipsis again, and then select Sort by Month again.
    
48. Arrange Report Layout
    Resize and reposition the visual as shown in the screenshot.
    
49. Verify Visual Design
    Verify that the visual looks like the screenshot.
    
50. Create Treemap Visual
    Create a new visual by using the Manager | Region Name and the Sales | Revenue fields.
    Modify the visual type to Treemap.
    
51. Arrange Report Layout
    Resize and reposition the visual as shown in the screenshot.
    
52. Verify Visual Design
    Verify that the visual looks like the screenshot.
    
53. Create Map Visual
    Create a map visual by using the Sales | State Name and the Sales | Revenue fields.
    There is no need to change the visualization type, as map is the default type used when the spatial field State Name is used.Resize and reposition the visual as shown in the screenshot.
    
    
54. Add Legend
    To display pie charts, drag the Sales | Product Item Group field and drop it inside the Legend well.
    
55. Filter Map
    To display only the contiguous US states, in the Filters section (in the Visualizations pane, you may need to scroll down to locate the section), click State Name(All) to expand the filter list.
    Check Select All, and then uncheck Alaska and Hawaii.
    
56. Adjust Map Zoom
    If necessary, hover over the map, and then use the mouse wheel to adjust the zoom to fill the available visual space.
    Verify that the visualization looks like the screenshot.
    
57. Save Report
    To save the report, at the top-right corner, click Save.
    
58. Pin Visuals
    To complete the dashboard layout, pin each of the four new report visuals to the dashboard.
59. Return to Dashboard
    Return to the dashboard.
60. Edit Tile Detail
    Modify the Quantity tile title to YTD Quantity.
61. Drillthrough Tile
    Click on the YTD Quantity title, and notice that it navigates to the source report page.
    Return to the dashboard again.
62. Arrange Dashboard Tiles
    Resize the Quantity BY MONTH tile to a size 1x3 (like the Revenue BY MONTH tile).
    Reposition the tiles to produce the layout as shown in the screenshot.
    The dashboard enables viewing data with a variety of different visualization types in a single pane of glass. Users can interact by entering new questions in the Q&A box, or by clicking on any tile to drill through to the tile source, which can be either a Q&A question, or a visualization saved within a report. Finally, dashboard pages can be shared with other registered Power BI users.
    
63. View Full Screen Mode
    To view the dashboard in full screen mode, at the top-right corner, click Enter Full Screen Mode.
    If Internet Explorer prompt for permission, click Allow Once.
    
64. Fit to Screen
    If all tiles are still not visible, move the cursor toward the bottom-right corner, and when the pane appears, click Fit to Screen.
    
65. Exit Full Screen Mode
    To exit full screen mode, click Exit Full Screen Mode.
    
66. Set Featured Dashboard
    To set the dashboard as the featured dashboard, at the top-right corner, click the ellipsis, and then select Select as Featured Dashboard.
    When prompted to confirm, click Select as Featured Dashboard.
    
67. Verify Featured Dashboard
    In the Navigation pane, notice that Featured Dashboard is enabled.
    When signing in to Power BI, this dashboard will automatically be loaded in the canvas area.
    
68. Share Dashboard
    At the top-right corner, click Share.
    Review the Share Dashboard pane, and then click Cancel.
    You will not share the dashboard in this lab.
    In the Share Dashboard pane, notice that, as the dashboard owner, you can manage sharing this dashboard to other users.
    Sharing provides access to the dashboard and reports in reading view, which means they can interact, but not change the layout of the dashboard or reports.
    Users will find the dashboard in their Navigation pane, annotated with the sharing icon. They will not see the dataset that it uses.
    

In this exercise, you assembled a dashboard by creating tiles sourced from Q&A questions, and also from new and existing report visualizations.

Click Continue to complete the lab.