In Power BI, a dashboard is created in the Power BI service. To do this, you must initially have the data you would like to use. This data can come from a dataset you have uploaded, data shared with you by other users, or even from a report you have created in Power BI. Once the requisite data is chosen, constructing the dashboard is an easy process.
Steps to Create a Dashboard
- Sign in to Power BI service: Firstly, sign in to your Power BI service account and navigate to the workspace where you want to create your dashboard.
- Create a new dashboard: Click on ‘+ Create’ icon present on the left side navigation panel. A dropdown menu will appear. Select ‘Dashboard’. Give your dashboard a suitable name then click ‘Create’.
- Add tiles to Your Dashboard: These tiles are interactive and update in real time with the most current data. You can create tiles by adding visualizations to it. Example: Click on the ‘+ Add tile’ button located at the top of the dashboard to add a pre-existing visualization to the dashboard. A new window named ‘Add tile’ will open. Select Power BI in the ‘Add widget’ section and choose the desired visualization, then click ‘Apply’.
- Pin Live Pages: This feature lets you pin a whole report page to the dashboard. Navigate to a report, from the top-menu select ‘Pin live page’ and select the dashboard where you want to place it.
- Organize your Dashboard: You can move, resize and arrange tiles according to your requirements. Simply hover over the tile and adjust accordingly.
- Share your Dashboard: Once your dashboard is prepared, you can share it with others in your organization. Go to the ‘Share’ button in the upper right corner of the dashboard and enter the email addresses of the people you want to share it with.
Considerations for Creating and Organizing Dashboards
There are several things to keep in mind while creating and organizing dashboards:
- Know Your Audience: The design and complexity of your dashboard should be tailored to the audience who will be viewing it. Consider their familiarity with the data and their technical capabilities when designing.
- Properly Utilize Space: It is important to efficiently use the space on your dashboard. Ensure that your visuals are not cluttered and are easily readable.
- Usability: Make sure that the dashboard is not only visually appealing but also easy to navigate and derive insights from.
When preparing for the PL-300 Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certification, it’s important to explore the dashboard creation process thoroughly. This knowledge combined with hands-on practice will certainly enhance your data analysis skills, empowering you to proficiently use Power BI, and increase your chances of passing the certification exam.
Practice Test
Power BI dashboards are collections of visuals, reports, and other data that provide a consolidated view of business data.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Power BI dashboards are indeed consolidated views of many different data sources, represented as visuals, reports, and other data.
In Power BI, what does the term “tile” refer to?
- A single piece of data from a dataset
- A single visual in a dashboard
- The dashboards themselves
- None of the above
Answer: A single visual in a dashboard
Explanation: In Power BI, a tile is a single visual in a dashboard that represents a summary of the underlying data.
In Power BI, we can only create dashboards by importing data from Excel.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Power BI supports data import from a variety of sources, including SQL Server, SharePoint, and many more, not just Excel.
Power BI dashboards cannot be shared with other users.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Dashboards in Power BI can easily be shared with other users, allowing for collaborative data analytics.
Power BI visuals in a dashboard are static and cannot be interacted with.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The visuals in a Power BI dashboard are interactive. Clicking on elements of visual would reflect on the rest of the report.
What type of data sources can you connect to when creating a dashboard in Power BI?
- Excel
- SQL Server
- SharePoint
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Explanation: Power BI supports data import from a variety of sources such as Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint, etc.
You cannot customize data visuals in Power BI dashboard.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Power BI allows you to customize how data is displayed in visuals. You can change colors, sizes, and other properties.
KPIs can be used on a Power BI dashboard.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Power BI provides capabilities for displaying KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) on the dashboard.
You cannot export Power BI dashboards and reports.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Power BI dashboards and reports can be exported to PDF, PPT and other formats.
The Q&A feature in Power BI cannot be used to explore data in a dashboard.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Q&A feature in Power BI allows you to use natural language to ask questions about the data and get insight directly on your dashboard.
The data model in Power BI dashboard cannot be modified once it is published.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Data model in Power BI dashboard can be changed even after publishing by editing and republishing the dashboard.
DirectQuery and Live Connection are two types of connectivity modes in Power BI.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: DirectQuery and Live Connection are indeed two types of connectivity modes in Power BI, offering different levels of data access and flexible refresh scenarios.
Power BI supports real-time dashboard updates.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Power BI provides real-time dashboard updates, which allow any changes in the underlying data to be instantly reflected in the dashboard.
PowerBI Embedded can be used to integrate Power BI dashboard in your custom applications.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: PowerBI Embedded is a Microsoft Azure service that allows integration of Power BI dashboards, reports, and more into custom applications.
Dashboards in Power BI are device-specific.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Power BI dashboards are not device specific. They can be accessed from any device including PCs, tablets and smartphones.
Interview Questions
What is the primary purpose of a dashboard in Microsoft Power BI?
Dashboards in Microsoft Power BI serve as a centralized location where you can present multiple visualizations, metrics, and data points to provide a consolidated view of business data.
Can you explain the difference between a report and a dashboard in Power BI?
A report is a multi-perspective, detailed view of a dataset, with visuals representing different findings and insights. A dashboard is a collection of visuals, reports, and other data that provides a consolidated view of business data.
How many tiles can be pinned to a dashboard in Power BI?
In Power BI, you can pin up to 1,000 tiles to a dashboard.
How can you keep your Power BI dashboard and reports up-to-date?
You can set up scheduled data refresh for your datasets to keep your Power BI dashboards and reports up-to-date.
What is Power BI Q&A, and how is it useful for dashboards?
Power BI Q&A is a natural language query feature that lets users ask questions about their data in plain English. It is useful in dashboards as it allows users to interact with the dashboard data and get insights without any technical knowledge.
Can we create real-time dashboards in Power BI?
Yes, we can create real-time dashboards in Power BI. This can be achieved by using either the “Streaming Datasets” feature or the “Publish to the Web” feature.
What is the purpose of the Power BI Dashboard Designer tool?
The Power BI Dashboard Designer tool enables you to create custom, insightful dashboards using data from different sources that provide a consolidated view of business data.
What are the main steps to create a dashboard in Power BI?
The main steps to create a dashboard in Power BI include uploading or connecting to your data source, creating visuals for presenting your data, and arranging them on the dashboard.
What are some ways to customize a Power BI dashboard?
Power BI allows customization of dashboards through actions like resizing, renaming tiles, adding a theme, setting tile refresh frequency, creating dashboard hierarchies, and linking visuals to reports or external URLs.
Does the Power BI mobile app support customizing dashboards on mobile?
No, the Power BI mobile app currently does not support creating or customizing dashboards. It is primarily for viewing the dashboards and reports.
How would you share a Power BI dashboard with other users?
You can share the Power BI Dashboard with other users by selecting the “Share” option on the top right of the Dashboard.
Can you export a Power BI dashboard?
No, you cannot directly export a Power BI dashboard. However, you can export the individual visuals or tiles in a dashboard to a PDF, PowerPoint, or print them.
Why would you use the drill-through feature on a Power BI dashboard?
The drill-through feature allows users to navigate from a summary view to a detailed view of a specific data point or category, providing more context and insight to your data.
Can you add an Excel file to a Power BI dashboard?
Yes, you can add an Excel file to a Power BI dashboard. You need to import the Excel data into Power BI, create visuals from that data, and then pin those visuals to your dashboard.
How can you improve the performance of your Power BI dashboard?
You can improve the performance of your Power BI dashboard by optimizing the data model, minimizing the number of visuals, avoiding high-cardinality columns in visuals, and reducing the number of tiles on the dashboard.
extutorials.com