What is Power BI Desktop? Learn the Fundamentals

Learn the minimum system requirements to install and run Power BI Desktop, including at least 4 GB of RAM.

Learn how to download and install Power BI Desktop, choosing between Microsoft Store and download Center, with steps for language selection and 32- or 64-bit options, plus advantages.

Explore the Power BI Desktop welcome screen to access get data, view recent sources, and open reports, with an option to sign in or close the window.

Explore Power BI and its parts, focusing on Power BI Desktop as the starting point, with Power BI service and mobile apps turning data into insights.

Install Power BI Desktop to connect to multiple data sources, transform data, and build a shareable data model of visuals for reports that you share via Power BI service.

Power BI Desktop guides users through four steps: connect to data from multiple sources, shape data into models, create visualizations and reports, and share via the Power BI service.

Explore the three Power BI Desktop views—report, data, and model—and use the Power Query Editor to shape data, define relationships, and load a refined data model for reports.

Explore how Power BI Desktop connects to data through common data sources such as Excel, SQL Server, Web, Text, and CSV files, and use Get Data to access additional connections.

Connect to SQL Server database in Power BI Desktop, using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and Adventure Works 2019, load the Sales Order Detail table, and explore basic shaping options.

Power Query Editor, a built-in Power BI Desktop feature, lets you change data types, remove or combine columns, and pivot or unpivot data, with every step recorded for repeatable shaping.

Navigate query editor areas: the ribbon with transform, add column, view, tools, and help; the left pane shows active queries; the data pane supports work; the settings pane shows steps.

Learn how to combine tables in Power BI Desktop by merging or appending queries, including when to use each option in the Power Query Editor.

Create a calendar table in Power BI using DAX to enable time intelligence, include a date-time column, relate it to other tables, and slice data by date with gap-free rows.

Learn to create a Power BI Desktop report by pulling data from the web, shaping it with Power Query, merging tables, building a calendar table, and crafting slicers and visuals.

Publish your power BI report from Power BI Desktop to the Power BI service with a Power BI Pro license, selecting a workspace, saving changes, and sharing with business users.

Share your report with peers by using Power BI service, selecting the shared option, and adding business users before sending.

Finish this training session by taking the final test and demonstrate how much you learned about Power BI Desktop.

Pursue the next steps after mastering Power BI Desktop by enrolling in the DAX basics in Power BI Desktop course. Follow vizxlization for up-to-date Power BI tips.