Bücher von Adam Aspin

Intermediate-Advanced user level

Develop powerful data models that bind data from disparate sources into a coherent whole. Then extend your data models using DAX-the query language that underpins Power BI-to create reusable measures to deliver finely-crafted custom calculations in your dashboards.This book starts off teaching you how to define and enhance the core structures of your data model to make it a true semantic layer that transforms complex data into familiar business terms. You'll learn how to create calculated columns to solve basic analytical challenges. Then you'll move up to mastering DAX measures to finely slice and dice your data.The book also shows how to handle temporal analysis in Power BI using a Date dimension. You will see how DAX Time Intelligence functions can simplify your analysis of data over time. Finally, the book shows how to extend DAX to filter and calculate datasets and develop DAX table functions and variables to handle complex queries.What You Will LearnCreate clear and efficient data models that support in-depth analyticsDefine core attributes such as data types and standardized formatting consistently throughout a data modelDefine cross-filtering settings to enhance the data modelMake use of DAX to create calculated columns and custom tablesExtend your data model with custom calculations and reusable measures using DAXPerform time-based analysis using a Date dimension and Time Intelligence functionsWho This Book Is ForEveryone from the CEO to the Business Intelligence developer and from BI and Data architects and analysts to power users and IT managers can use this book to outshine the competition and create the data framework that they need and interactive dashboards using Power BI

This book provides all you need to find data from external sources and load and transform that data into Power BI where you can mine it for business insights and a competitive edge. This ranges from connecting to corporate databases such as Azure SQL and SQL Server to file-based data sources, and cloud- and web-based data sources. The book also explains the use of Direct Query and Live Connect to establish instant connections to databases and data warehouses and avoid loading data. The book provides detailed guidance on techniques for transforming inbound data into normalized data sets that are easy to query and analyze. This covers data cleansing, data modification, and standardization as well as merging source data into robust data structures that can feed into your data model. You will learn how to pivot and transpose data and extrapolate missing values as well as harness external programs such as R and Python into a Power Query data flow. You also will see how to handle errors in source data and extend basic data ingestion to create robust and parameterized data load and transformation processes. Everything in this book is aimed at helping you deliver compelling and interactive insight with remarkable ease using Power BI's built-in data load and transformation tools.What You Will LearnConnect Power BI to a range of external data sourcesPrepare data from external sources for easy analysis in Power BI Cleanse data from duplicates, outliers, and other bad valuesMake live connections from which to refresh data quickly and easilyApply advanced techniques to interpolate missing dataWho This Book Is ForAll Power BI users from beginners to super users. Any user of the world's leading dashboarding tool can leverage the techniques explained in this book to turbo-charge their data preparation skills and learn how a wide range of external data sources can be harnessed and loaded into Power BI to drive their analytics. No previous knowledge of working with data, databases, or external data sources is required-merely the need to find, transform, and load data into Power BI..

Produce high-quality, visually attractive analysis quickly and effectively with Microsoft's key BI tool. This book teaches analysts, managers, power users, and developers how to harness the power of Microsoft's self-service business intelligence flagship product to deliver compelling and interactive insight with remarkable ease. It then shows you the essential techniques needed to go from source data to dashboards that seize your audience's attention and provide them with clear and accurate information. As well as producing elegant and visually arresting output, you learn how to enhance the user experience through adding polished interactivity. This book shows you how to make interactive dashboards that allow you to guide users through the meaning of the data that they are exploring. Drill down features are also covered that allow you and your audience to dig deeper and uncover new insights by exploring anomalous and interesting data points.Reading this book builds your skills around creating meaningful and elegant dashboards using a range of compelling visuals. It shows you how to apply simple techniques to convert data into business insight. The book covers tablet and smartphone layouts for delivering business value in today's highly mobile world. You'll learn about formatting for effect to make your data tell its story, and you'll be a master at creating visually arresting output on multiple devices that grabs attention, builds influence, and drives change. What You Will LearnProduce designer output that will astound your bosses and peersMake new insights as you chop and tweak your data as never beforeCreate high-quality analyses in record timeCreate interdependent charts, maps, and tablesDeliver visually stunning informationDrill down through data to provide unique understandingsOutshine competing products and enhance existing skillsAdapt your dashboard delivery to mobile devicesWho This Book Is ForFor any Power BI user who wants to strengthen their ability to deliver compelling analytics via Microsoft's widely adopted analytics platform. For those new to Power BI who want to learn the full extent of what the platform is capable of. For power users such as BI analysts, data architects, IT managers, accountants, and C-suite members who want to drive change in their organizations.

Intermediate-Advanced user level

Business Intelligence with SQL Server Reporting Services helps you deliver business intelligence with panache. Harness the power of the Reporting Services toolkit to combine charts, gauges, sparklines, indicators, and maps into compelling dashboards and scorecards. Create compelling visualizations that seize your audience’s attention and help business users identify and react swiftly to changing business conditions. Best of all, you'll do all these things by creating new value from software that is already installed and paid for – SQL Server and the included SQL Server Reporting Services. Businesses run on numbers, and good business intelligence systems make the critical numbers immediately and conveniently accessible. Business users want access to key performance indicators in the office, at the beach, and while riding the subway home after a day's work. Business Intelligence with SQL Server Reporting Services helps you meet these need for anywhere/anytime access by including chapters specifically showing how to deliver on modern devices such as smart phones and tablets. You'll learn to deliver the same information, with similar look-and-feel, across the entire range of devices used in business today. Key performance indicators give fast notification of business unit performancePolished dashboards deliver essential metrics and strategic comparisonsVisually arresting output on multiple devices focuses attention