What DAX IS and why it's an essential skill to know for a Power BI Pro
The first question everyone asks when we tell them they need to learn DAX is "What is DAX?" then "Why do I need to learn it?"
Our Answer: Think of getting one of those food boxes to your door. You get ingredients prepared neatly in the right quantities and measures, you get a recipe to follow. Ingredients go together to make the dish that was designed for you.
BUT what if you don’t like some of the things in the box? Or what if you want to make something else? You'll need to change the ingredients you have been given. You can cut them, cook them, or add other things. That’s like what DAX does. It helps you change the data or "ingredients" that you have been given.
We can use DAX to make new data that tells a better story (or back to the analogy, a new "dish"). So if you are going to be serious about a career in Power BI that goes beyond being a pure visual or report designer, you'll need DAX.
Here's what you will learn ...
What the filter and row context is. You'll hear this a lot as you learn.
How to filter a whole table, or just a selection of columns to reveal different themes and trends
How to use a core function - calculate - to dynamically filter your existing data into new tables you can use
How to replace one filter with another, ignore and intersect your data using filters
reasons to WATCH
The Topics You Will Cover
What is DAX?
Using some every day analogies, you'll learn about the crucial role DAX will play in your development as a Power BI Pro
Practice | Practice | Practice
You'll be experimenting and learning with Jessica using LOTS of practice in these areas:
- Filters to replace other filters
- Filters to ignore other filters
- Filters intersecting other filters
What Skills are Needed
Even the name "DAX" (Data Analysis Expression") is a bit daunting, but you'll learn how easy it is to form complex DAX formula using real examples. With practice and Jessica's support, you'll have a grasp in no time.
How to Optimise
Some filters are inefficient and some approaches are optimized. Learn about the differences and how to filter over a whole table or just selected columns
Context Transition
Changing the way a filter works on the fly sounds daunting but you will learn about Filtering with a context transition
Where to head next in your career path
Experimenting and learning in this workshop will show you how you will cope with the more complex data interactions needed when working with Power BI. It will be a great way to decide if this path is for you - and to ask an expert where to head next
Is This Workshop Right For You?
Would you answer YES to any to these questions?
Chances are, you thought Power BI might be simple but then tried to perform a task you routinely do in Excel using Pivot tables and found it hard.
Power BI works in a totally different manner to Excel and requires a subtle shift in approach.
This workshop will help you change mindset and break down your DAX barriers.
"I'm at a stage in my Power BI learning where this Workshop makes so much sense as a next step ..."
I've spent time learning the basics of Power BI - like importing data, building a model, visualising and publishing reports.
I feel now that I have reached the limit of what I can do with my data 'out of the box' and need to be able to transform it in new ways to reveal insights. Ive got some really basic skills in this area, but I know I need the next level.
Thats why I believe this workshop is a natural next step ...
DAX and formulas allow me to not just refine and clean my data, they allow filtering, combinations and limitations to be put in placeto make meaningful NEW tables that I can then visualise or analyse.
The skills I need to do this take practice. I'm also likely to have questions because this is a more complex area that I have delved into so far.
Thats why I will be watching this workshop because I believe with the right support (that Jessica can offer), I'll be able to get to the next level on my own Power BI learning journey more quickly than just using Microsoft learn based content alone.
Meet your Workshop Host...
Jessica Jolly (MCT)
Jessica Jolly is A Microsoft Certified Trainer with an MCSE in Data Analytics.
Passionate about the topic with a practice focused on Power BI specifically, and the Power Platform more generally.
Before starting my own business, ALT-Enter, LLC, I worked for Unilever, a global consumer products company, for 27 years, in a variety of roles.
Because of my many years of corporate work experience, I focus my training on teaching business analysts the practical uses of the features and functionality in Microsoft Office applications, with a special focus on Power BI, Excel, Power Pivot (Excel 2016), and the Power Query Editor.
Frequently Asked Questions
As soon as you purchase your pass you will be emailed a receipt. If you'd also like a formal invoice, please send your request to [email protected]
We're absolutely positive you will love all of the content included in this Workshop, however, if not contact us within 3 days of your purchase and we will issue a refund.
At the moment, only individual passes are available. Please contact us at [email protected] if you'd like to discuss the purchase of more than 5 passes.
No, only the person who purchases the pass will be able to watch the videos and will receive the ebooks. We ask that you do not share them.