80 Most Common Power BI Interview Questions and Answers

The rise of Business Intelligence tools is now a great deal of hype. All the business intelligence tools have posed a challenge to Microsoft. In most cases, Microsoft introduced Power BI to address all the compelling questions. Power BI Interview questions and answers you should know to address your requirements.

According to Gartner, Microsoft Power BI is a top business Intelligence tool. All IT firms rely on Power BI, which is why companies now want candidates who have the knowledge to use it.

Due to this, the current IT firms have a huge demand for Power BI Experts. Additionally, you must get through the details of these questions to understand the types of questions you have to face in the interview board.

Essential Power BI Interview Questions and Answers You Must Know

There are several essential Power BI Interview questions that you should know from your end. Some of the key questions that you must follow from your end are as follows:-

Top Power BI Interview Questions For Freshers

The Power BI interview questions for freshers revolve around the following questions. You must go through it once to have a clear insight to it

1. What Is Power BI?

Power BI is one of the popular business analytics tools that was developed by Microsoft. It helps you to turn in some unrelated data sources that comprise valuable and interactive insights.

All these data may be in the form of Spreadsheets or cloud-based or premises hybrid data warehouses. You can easily connect to all your data sources to share the insights with anyone.

2. Why Should We Use Power BI?

Power BI is a powerful tool for data analysis and visualization, and here are the key reasons why you should consider using it:

• User-Friendly Interface: Power BI offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it accessible for beginners and professionals alike, enabling quick creation of reports and dashboards without extensive coding knowledge.
• Robust Data Connectivity: It supports a wide range of data sources, including Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint, cloud services like Azure, and third-party platforms like Salesforce and Google Analytics, allowing seamless data integration.
• Interactive Visualizations: Power BI provides a variety of customizable, interactive charts, graphs, and visuals that help users explore data dynamically and uncover insights effectively.
• Real-Time Data Updates: With features like data refresh and live dashboards, Power BI enables real-time monitoring and decision-making, critical for fast-paced business environments.
• Advanced Analytics with AI: It includes built-in AI capabilities, such as predictive analytics, natural language processing (NLP) for Q&A, and automated insights, which simplify complex data analysis.
• Cost-Effective: Power BI offers a free desktop version with robust features, while the Pro and Premium versions provide advanced capabilities at a relatively low cost compared to other BI tools.

Scalability and Cloud Integration: As part of Microsoft’s ecosystem, Power BI integrates seamlessly with Azure, Microsoft 365, and other tools, offering scalability for businesses of all sizes and secure cloud-based data management.

3. What Are The Difference Between Power BI and Tableau?

Power BI and Tableau have several points of differences that you must be well aware of. Some of the key factors that you must be well accustomed to are as follows:-

4. Difference Between Power Query And Power Pivot?

There are several points of difference between Power Query and Power Pivot. Some of the core differences of it are as follows:-

5. What Is Power BI Desktop?

Microsoft has developed and designed Power BI Desktop as an open-source application. Power BI will allow users to connect with data in order to transform and visualize their data with complete ease. It lets users visualize all data and collection that can be shared in the form of reports with your clients and colleagues in your organization.

6. What Is A Measure In Power BI?

In Power BI, a measure is a calculation created using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) to perform dynamic aggregations or computations on data within a data model. Measures are used to derive insights from data, such as sums, averages, counts, or more complex calculations, and they adapt to the context of the report or visualization they’re used in.

Key Characteristics of a Measure:

1. Dynamic Calculation: Measures calculate results on the fly based on the filters, slicers, or context applied in a report, unlike static columns in a table.
2. Defined by DAX: Measures are written as DAX formulas, enabling calculations like SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, or custom logic (e.g., year-over-year growth).
3. Stored in the Data Model: Measures don’t store data themselves but reference data in tables to compute results, making them memory-efficient.

Context-Sensitive: They respond to the report’s context, such as selected filters or row/column groupings in visuals, thanks to Power BI’s filter context and row context.

7. What Is Power Query?

Microsoft has designed power queries as one of the business intelligence tools that is used for Excel. In most cases, power query allows you to import data from various data sources that will enable you to clean, transform, and reshape your data.

8. What Is DAX?

The full form of DAX is Data Analysis and expression. This is a collection of operators, functions, and constants that is used in formulas to make the calculations of the return value. Thus it helps you to create new info from all the data that you have.

9. What Are The Filters In Power BI?

The term filter itself is self-explanatory as all the mathematical and logical calculations are being applied to data. It will help you to filter out all the logical data and essential information in the form of rows and columns. There are certain varieties of filters available in the power BI.

• Auto filters
• Manual Filters
• Drill Down Filters
• Include/ Exclude Filters
• Drill through filters
• Cross through Filters
• Pass-Through Filters
• URL filters

10. What Are The Custom Visuals In Power BI?

Custom visuals are like any other visualizations that are generated using the power BI. The only amount of visuals is that it develops custom visuals by making use of Custom SDK. All the languages like JavaScript and Jquery are used to create all the customized visuals in Power BI.

11. What Is Get Data In Power BI?

Get data is a simple icon present in Power BI that is used to import data from the source. It is one of the best custom software to use in 2024. All your data-related queries can make things easier for you in all possible ways.

12. What Is Power Pivot?

Power Pivot for Excel will support single-directional relationships. Calculated columns are there for import mode. It supports bidirectional cross-filtering connections. This comprises security, multiple import options, and calculated tables.

13. What Is Self-Service BI, Anyway?

SSBI is an abbreviation for the Self Service Business Intelligence and is a breakthrough intelligence. It has enabled many business professionals to have no technical as well as coding background. To use power BI and coding reports to generate and draw predictions successfully. Even all nontechnical users can easily create these dashboards. This will help your business to make more informed decisions.

14. What Are The Custom Visuals In Power BI?

All the custom visuals are like any other visuals in Power BI. The only difference is that it develops all the custom visuals using a custom SDK. Languages like Javascript and J query are used to create custom visuals in Power BI.

15. What Is Get Data In Power BI?

Get Data is a simple icon in Power BI that is used to import data from the source. Additionally, it can offer you the scope to make things happen in your favor. Here, proper planning will help you to reduce the scope of errors.

16. Mention Some Benefits Of Power BI

There are several benefits of power BI as you can enjoy intractable data visualizations in the data center. Let’s go through its benefits to have a better idea about these Power BI interview questions.

• Intractable data visualizations in data center power BI will help you to build in
• Allows users to transform data into any kind of visuals to share them with anyone
• Develops all the connections for dashboards, and Excel queries for fast analysis
• Offers quick and accurate solutions
• Enables users to perform all the queries on any kind of report using simple queries

17. List Out Some Of The Drawbacks As Well As limitations Of Power BI

There are several drawbacks and limitations of Power BI that you must be well aware of from your end. Some of the core drawbacks of it are as follows:-

• Power BI does not support a file size that is more than 1 GB. It helps to import all the data and to access all the real-time connections
• Several data sources allow all the real-time data sources to meet the requirements of Power BI reports and dashboards
• In most of the cases, it shares dashboards and reports with same email address
• Dashboard does not accept passwords, user accounts, or any other parameters like it

18. Difference Between Data Modelling On Power BI in Desktop and Power Pivot in Excel

The main difference between Power BI on desktop and Power Pivot in Excel is that it supports single-directional relationships. It is calculated in columns and one single mode. Power BI Desktop supports bidirectional cross-filtering connection with multiple import options and calculated tables.

19. Name Several Connectivity Modes Available In Power BI

Several connectivity options and modes are available in Power BI that you should be well aware of. Some of these modes are as follows:-

A. SQL Server Import

An SQL server import is a default and one of the most common connectivity types. It is used in Power BI. As it allows you to use the full capabilities of the Power BI desktop. Additionally, this can better boost the scope of your learning.

B. Direct Query

Whenever you make a connection to specific data sources the connection to direct query is possible. In this form of connectivity type Power BI will lock the metadata for underlying data but not the actual data.

C. Live Connection

With this form of connectivity type, it does not store all the data with the use of the Power BI model. All the interactions with the report will use the live connection with the query that is present in the existing analysis service model. There are only three basic data sources that support the Live connection methods SQL server analysis, Azure Analysis service, and the Power BI data sets.

20. What Are The Various Types Of Refresh Options Provided In Power BI?

Various types of refresh options are provided by Power BI that you should know from your end. Some of the key factors that you must be well aware of while meeting your needs with absolute ease.

A. Package Refresh

It synchronizes all your Power BI desktop or Excel files between one drive and Power BI or any kind of SharePoint online.

B. Model Or Data Refresh

Within a power BI service, it refreshes the data set from the original data source. You should be well aware of this while reaching your goals.

C. Tile Refresh

For your tile visuals, you can update the cache every 15 minutes within the dashboard once all the data changes.

D. Visual Container Refresh

It easily refreshes all the visual containers as well as updates that comprise cached report visuals within a report once you change the data.

21. Name The Data Sources Power BI Can Connect To?

There are several data sources that the Power BI can easily connect to and these are grouped into three main types.

A. Files

It can easily import all the data from Excel, Power BI desktop files, and all the comma-separated values.

B. Content Packs

Content packs from services and service providers like Google Analytics, Salesforce, and Marketo are created and shared by other organizations.

C. Connecters

All the connectors get connected with all the data sets and databases that comprise apps, data, and services in the cloud.

22. What Are The Dashboards in Power BI?

A dashboard is a single-layer presentation sheet that comprises of multiple visualization report. Some of the main features of the dashboard of Power BI are as follows:-

• It allows you to drill through all the pages, bookmarks, and selection panes and will help you create various tiles to integrate the URLs
• A dashboard will also help you to set all the report layouts in the mobile view

23. Explain How Relationships Are Defined In Power BI Desktop.

In most of the cases, relationship tables are defined in two ways. Some of them are as follows;-

• Manually: Using all the primary and foreign keys relationships between the tables are manually defined
• Automatic: Whenever you enable this feature Power BI detects all the relationships between all the tables to create them automatically

24. Is It Possible To Get More Than One Functional Development Between Two Tables In Data Models That Are Power Pivot?

No, there are possibilities that there can be various inactive relationships between two tables of the Power Pivot. Additionally, in most of the cases, all dotted lines show inactive relations. All the continuous lines represent some active relationships. This is one of the essential Power BI interview questions that you should address.

25. Can You Have The Table In The Model Which Does Not Have Any Relationships With Other Tables?

Yes!! There are chances that there can be two disconnected tables present in it. All these tables are used with parameter values that are all exposed and selected by the slicers.

For metrics in the user interface, it makes use of the table as the placeholder. Additionally, you need to get through the complete process that can assist you in meeting your needs.

26. What Is The Calculate Function In DAX?

There are certain ways you can calculate the function of DAX that you should be well aware of. The CALCULATE function operates the sum of the sales table amount. You should modify the filter in the context of the measures for the table.

You need to step up with some following power BI interview questions from the scope of the intermediate level. Additionally, you should take care of certain facts that can assist you in meeting your needs with ease.

27. Where Is Data Stored In BI?

In most cases, Power BI gets assisted by the cloud to store data. In most of the cases, Power BI makes use of the desktop service. Microsoft Azure is used as a primary cloud service to store data.

• Azure Blob Storage
• Azure SQL database

Power BI Intermediate Level Questions & Answers

If you have prior knowledge about Power BI and want to update your knowledge further then these questions can be of great help for you in future.

28. What Is Row Level Security?

Row-level security limits all the data limits that you can access. It all relies on filters. Users can define all the roles and rules in all the Power BI desktops to publish them in the Power BI service to configure all the row-level security.

29. Why Should You Apply General Formatting To Power BI Data?

In most cases, users can make use of general formatting to make it easier for your power BI. It will help you to categorize and identify data thus making it easier to considerable work with ease.

30. What Are The Different Views Available In Power BI Data?

There are three different views present in Power BI that you should be well aware of. Some of the crucial aspects that you must be well aware of are as follows:-

• Report View: In this view, users can add additional users pages, and can add visualizations to publish the same in the portal
• Data View: In the query editor tools data shaping can be performed
• Model View: Users can manage all the complex relationships using the data sets

31. What Are The Various Versions Of Power BI?

Power BI has lots of versions present in it. Some of its core versions are as follows:

• Power BI Desktop
• Power BI Service
• Make use of Mobile Power BI apps for Android devices and iOS

32. Explain The Building Blocks Of Microsoft Power BI.

The building blocks of Microsoft Power BI are as follows:-

A. Visualization

Visualization is a method of generating graphs and charts for the representations of graphs as well as charts.

B. Data Set

A data set is a collection of data that is used to create the visualization such as a column of the sales figure. Data sets can be filtered and combined from various sources that are built-in data plugins.

C. Reports

The final stage is the report stage. It comprises of group of visualizations on one or more pages. It comprises maps and charts that are combined to make final reports.

D. Dashboards

All the dashboards of Power BI assist you in sharing all the single visualizations with all the colleagues and clients to see the complete dashboard.

E. Tiles

A tile is an individual visualization on your final dashboard or one of your charts will offer you a final report. This is one of the most crucial aspects of Power BI that you should know from your end.

33. What Are The Critical Components Of The Power BI Tool Kit?

There are several critical components of the Power BI Tool Kit that you must be well aware of. Some of its critical components are as follows:-

• The Power Query
• Power Pivot
• The Power Map
• Power View
• The Power Q&A

34. What Do You Mean By Content Pack?

A content pack is known as the readymade collection of the data visualization and comprises of Power BI reports while using your chosen service. Additionally, you must use all the content packs when you want to get up and running quickly instead of creating all the reports from scratch.

35. Define Bi-Directional Cross Filtering?

Bidirectional cross-filtering lets all the data modelers decide to know how desktop filters help you to flow the data. Thus it helps to build all the relationships with the table. All the filter concepts are transmitted to the second relatable table. This exits the other side of any given table and relationship. This procedure helps all the data modelers to solve many to many issues without the use of any complicated DAX formulas. Therefore Bidirectional cross-filtering makes the job for entire data modelers easier.

36. What Are The Three Fundamental Concepts Of DAX?

Three fundamental concepts of DAX are as follows:-

• Syntax
• Functions
• Context

37. Why And How Would You Use Custom Function File?

In most cases, you will use the custom visual file if all the pre-packaged files do not fit the needs of your business. All the developers make use of custom visual files. You can easily import them and use them in the same way as you will do in the case of prepackaged files. It is one of the essential Power BI questions that you must be well aware of while doing custom function files.

38. What Are The Categories Of Data Types?

The categories of data types are numerous that you should be well aware of from your counterpart.

• File
• All
• Power BI
• Database
• Online Service
• Azure
• Other

39. Name Some Commonly Used tasks in Query Editor.

There are some commonly used tasks in the query editor. It will help you to meet your goals with ease. Some of the crucial facts that you should be well aware of in this regard are as follows:-

• Shape and combine data
• Connect to data
• Pivot columns,
• Group Rows
• Query formulas
• Create Custom columns

40. What Do You Mean By Grouping?

There are several ways you can do grouping for making the data of visual chunks. However, you can define your groups into beans. For all the grouping Ctrl + Click can help you to select all the multiple elements. This too you can do in the visual format. Additionally, you need to right-click on these items. All the menus will appear in the chosen group. In the group’s window, you will get the opportunity to create new groups or you can modify the existing ones.

41. Explain Slicers That Are Responsive In Power BI.

A developer can resize all the responsive slicers to various shapes and sizes for all the data collected. Data collected in the container can be matched and rearranged. If the visual report becomes too small then it can become useful. To save the space and report page. This is one of the crucial aspects that you must be well aware of from your counterpart.

42. What Is Query Folding In Power BI?

Query folding is used when all the steps defined in the query editor are being translated to SQL. In most cases, it is executed in the source database instead of your device. Thus it helps in scalability and data processing.

43. What Is M Language?

M is a programming language that is used in power query as one of the functional as well as case-sensitive languages. It is similar to programming language and quite easy to use. Thus you have to make things work perfectly well in your favour.

44. What Are The Major Differences Between Visual Level, Page Level, and Report Level Filters?

There are some major differences between Visual Level, Page Level, and Report Level filters that you should be well aware of. Visual level filters are used to filter data, Page level filters are used to work on an entire page on a report, and Report level filters are used for the visualizations of the pages.

45. List The Most Common Techniques Of Data Shaping.

There are some of the common techniques that are used for data shaping. You must be well aware of it. Some of them are as follows:-

• Applying a sort order
• Adding Index
• Removing all rows and columns

46. How Is The Schedule Refresh Feature Designed To Work?

Users can easily set up automatic refresh of data based on weekly and daily requirements. Users can help you to refresh a maximum of daily due to Power BI Pro. It makes use of Pull-down menu choices. This will help you to select the time zone, time of the day, and frequency.

47. What Information Is Needed To Create A Map In Power Map?

Powermap can offer you geographical visualization. Therefore, some location and data are essential. Some examples of it are city, state, country, latitude and longitude.

48. Which In-Memory Analytics Engines Are Used In Power Pivot Use?

Power Pivot makes use of the Xvelocity engine. Xvelocity can easily handle a huge amount of data. All the data gets located in the RAM when you make use of it in memory analysis. It can easily boost the processing speed.

49. Mention The Major Components Of SSAS.

Some of the major components of SSAS are as follows:-

• OLP engine
• Data Drilling
• Slicers
• Pivot Tables

50. What Are The Three Fundamental Components Of DAX?

Three fundamental components of DAX are numerous. Some of the key components of it are as follows:-

• Syntax
• Functions
• Context

51. Name The Variety Of Power BI Formats.

All the power BI is available in three specific formats. Some of these key formats of it are as follows:-

• Mobile application
• Desktop
• Power BI services

52. What Are The Different Stages In The Working Of Power BI?

Different stages of working on power BI are numerous that you must be well aware of. Some of its core stages of it are as follows:-

• Complete Data processing
• Data Integration
• Comprehensive Data Presentation

53. Which Professionals Use The Power BI The Most?

Some of the list of professionals who make use of Power BI the most are as follows:-

• The Business owners
• Business Analyst
• All the Business developers

54. What Is The Advanced Editor?

All the advanced editor is used to view the queries that all the power BI is running against all the data sources as it will help you to import the data. All the queries are rendered in M code. You need to select the Edit Queries option from the home tab. You then have to click on the advanced editor to perform work on any query. Any changes were saved to apply the steps in the query settings.

55. What Gateways Does Power BI Have And Why Should You Use Them?

Gateways function as the bridges between all the data sources and the Azure Cloud services. Some of the key takeaways in this regard are as follows:-

• Personal Gateways: It can be used only by one person as all the data can be imported and it is valid on Power BI services
• On-Premises Gateways: It is one of the advanced forms of the personal gateway. As it supports all direct queries and is usable by multiple users to refresh all the data

56. Mention Some Applications Of Power BI.

There are numerous applications of Power BI that you must know about from your end. Some of the key applications of Power BI are as follows:-

• Data analysis
• Business analysis
• IT Professional
• Database Administration
• Data science

Power BI Advance Level Questions & Answers

These are some of the crucial Power BI advance level questions & answers that you must be well aware off. Some of the key factors to remember here are as follows:-

57. How Can You Depict A Story In Power BI?

It is another important power BI interview question often asked on the interview board. Every individual chart or visualization report is collected and generated on a single screen. This approach is applicable in the dashboard of Power BI. On the dashboard of Power BI, you can depict the story.

58. What Are The KPI’s In Power BI?

In most of the cases, KPIs are abbreviated as performance indicators. Any professional organization has teams and employees to follow all the KPI protocols. In most of the cases, organizations set up the KPI for all the employees. All these KPIs act as the targets. All these KPIs have a comparison to previous performances to analyze the progress.

59. What Is A Slicer?

Slicers are an integral part of a business report that is generated using Power BI. All the functionality of the slicer can be considered that be similar to that of the filter. A slicer can easily display the visual representation of all the values as well as the representation of all the available values that are present in the drop-down menu.

60. Explain Power BI Designer.

This is a combined solution that offers you the opportunity to upload reports and dashboards to the Power BI. It offers a clear website option for reference. This comprises of Power Pivot, Power Query, and Power Table.

61. How Do You Reshape Data In Power BI?

Power BI offers and delivers a wide variety of data sources. This can boost the scope of your brand value to a greater level. A data editor is one of the tools that is used to manipulate all the rows and columns of the data. This can also help you to reshape all the data according to your requirements.

62. What Is The Highest Data Limit Per Client For Free Version Of Power BI?

There are some of the data limits per client for the free version of Power BI that you must be well aware of. Some of the key factors that you must be well aware of are as follows:-

• The BI Pro: It allows 10 GB of data storage and license
• Power BI Premium: This comprises of default access of data size limit of 10GB
• The Power BI PPU: Comprises maximum memory available of 100 GB
• Semantic Models: The maximum number of columns is 16000 minus one for each table
• Data Sources: The maximum number of data sources allowed per user is 1000
• Queries: A limit of one million rows will be in each query

63. Where Do You Find Q&A Highlight?

At the highest point on the report, the power BI can benefit you. This can help you to meet your requirements with ease. Try out the best option that can make things work perfectly well in your way.

64. Which Single Page Canvas Uses Visualizations To Depict Story?

Power BI service dashboard can help you to depict the story while making the visualizations. Thus, it can help you to depict the story in a better manner. This will help us to know your take on this matter.

65. Which Components Do Not Form The Part Of Power BI?

Some components of Power BI do not form the part of Power BI scale. You should not make your choices on the incorrect end. Without knowing the facts you cannot make things happen in your favor.

66. Which Filter Level Is Analogous To The Slicer In A Report On The Power BI Desktop?

The page-level filter is analogous to the slicer to report on the power BI desktop. Additionally, you should make things happen in perfect order while reaching your goals. This can boost the scope of your brand value to a greater level.

67. Where Do You Reshape Data In Power BI?

Data editing can help you to reach your goals with complete ease. It can boost the scope of your brand value to a greater level.

68. How Do You Consolidate Inquiries In Power BI?

By joining all the queries you can consolidate inquiries in Power BI. Additionally, you cannot make your selection and choices on the incorrect end. This can boost the scope of your brand value to a greater level.

69. Which types of Views Are Available In Power BI?

There are several types of views available in Power BI that you should be well aware of. Some of the key factors that you should consider here are as follows:-

• Data view
• Model View
• Report View

70. How Can You Refresh Data In Power BI?

There are several ways you can refresh data in Power BI. Some of the core factors that you must be well aware of are as follows:-

• Refresh a Power BI desktop file
• You should refresh a semantic model
• Refresh the data in the data pane
• Enable an automatic page refresh
• Schedule a data refresh

71. What Happens When You Click On The In Focus Mode in Power BI

Focus mode lets you expand the Pop-out or the visual tile to see more detail. It is one of the crucial factors that you must be well aware of. Try to develop a better solution that can make things work perfectly well in your favor.

72. How To Connect Data In Power BI?

Connecting data in Power BI is a straightforward process that allows you to import, transform, and visualize data from various sources. Below is a step-by-step guide to connecting data in Power BI:

Steps to Connect Data in Power BI

1. Open Power BI Desktop:
   • Download and install Power BI Desktop (free) from the Microsoft website if you haven’t already.
   • Launch the application.
2. Access the Data Connection Options:
   • On the Home tab, click Get Data in the ribbon. This opens a dropdown menu with various data source options.
   • Alternatively, click the Get Data button on the splash screen when you open Power BI Desktop.
3. Choose a Data Source:
   • Power BI supports a wide range of data sources, including:
     • Files: Excel, CSV, XML, JSON, etc.
     • Databases: SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, etc.
     • Cloud Services: Azure SQL Database, SharePoint, Google BigQuery, Salesforce, etc.
     • Web: Data from a webpage or API.
     • Other: OData feeds, Python scripts, R scripts, and more.
   • Select the desired data source from the Get Data menu (e.g., “Excel” or “SQL Server”).
   • If your data source isn’t listed, choose Other or Blank Query for advanced connections.
4. Provide Connection Details:
   • Depending on the data source, you’ll need to provide specific details:
     • Files: Browse to the file location (e.g., select an Excel file on your computer).
     • Databases: Enter the server name, database name, and authentication credentials (e.g., Windows, Database, or OAuth).
     • Web: Paste the URL or API endpoint.
     • Cloud Services: Sign in with your account credentials (e.g., Microsoft 365 or Salesforce login).
   • Click Connect after entering the required information.
5. Select and Load Data:
   • After connecting, Power BI will display a Navigator window showing available tables, sheets, or datasets.
   • Check the box next to the tables or data you want to import. You can preview the data in the Navigator to ensure it’s correct.
   • Choose one of the following:
     • Load: Imports the data directly into Power BI as-is.
     • Transform Data: Opens the Power Query Editor to clean, transform, or shape the data (e.g., remove columns, filter rows, or merge tables).
6. Transform Data (Optional):
   • In the Power Query Editor, you can:
     • Remove unnecessary columns or rows.
     • Rename columns or tables for clarity.
     • Merge or append data from multiple sources.
     • Apply filters or data types (e.g., change text to numbers).
   • Once transformations are complete, click Close & Apply to load the data into Power BI.
7. Verify Data in Power BI:
   • The loaded data appears in the Fields pane on the right side of Power BI Desktop.
   • Tables, columns, and measures (if any) are listed, ready for use in reports and visualizations.
8. Set Up Relationships (If Needed):
   • If you’ve imported multiple tables, Power BI may auto-detect relationships based on common keys (e.g., ProductID).
   • Go to the Model view to manually create or edit relationships by dragging and dropping fields between tables to ensure accurate data connections.
9. Refresh Data:
   • To update data from the source (e.g., if the source file or database changes), click Refresh in the Home tab.
   • For automated refreshes, configure settings in the Power BI Service after publishing (requires a Pro or Premium license for scheduled refreshes).

73. How Will You Publish A Report In Power BI?

Publishing a report in Power BI involves sharing your Power BI Desktop report (.pbix file) to the Power BI Service (the online platform) so it can be accessed, viewed, and shared with others. Below is a step-by-step guide to publishing a report in Power BI:

Steps to Publish a Report in Power BI

1. Open Your Report in Power BI Desktop:
   • Launch Power BI Desktop and open the .pbix file containing the report you want to publish.
   • Ensure the report is complete, with all visuals, filters, and data connections properly configured.
2. Sign In to Power BI Service:
   • In Power BI Desktop, click Sign In (top-right corner) and log in with your Microsoft 365 or Power BI account credentials.
   • You need a Power BI Pro or Premium Per User (PPU) license to publish and share reports with others. The free version allows publishing but limits sharing.
3. Publish the Report:
   • Go to the Home tab in the ribbon.
   • Click Publish (a cloud icon with an upward arrow).
   • Select a destination workspace in the Power BI Service:
     • If you have access to multiple workspaces, choose the appropriate one (e.g., “My Workspace” or a shared team workspace).
     • If it’s your first time, the default is “My Workspace.”
   • Click Select.
4. Wait for the Publishing Process:
   • Power BI Desktop will upload the report and its associated dataset to the Power BI Service.
   • This may take a few moments depending on the report size and internet speed.
   • Once complete, a dialog box will confirm success and provide a link to view the report in the Power BI Service.
5. Access the Report in Power BI Service:
   • Open a web browser and navigate to app.powerbi.com.
   • Sign in with the same account used in Power BI Desktop.
   • Go to the workspace where you published the report (e.g., “My Workspace”).
   • You’ll see the report listed under the Reports tab and the associated dataset under the Datasets tab.

74. What Is A Fact Table And Dimension Table In Power BI?

Fact Table

• Definition: A fact table stores quantitative, measurable data (facts) representing business metrics or transactions, typically numerical values used for calculations.
• Purpose: Holds the core data you analyze, such as sales amounts or order quantities, which are aggregated (e.g., summed, averaged) in reports.
• Characteristics:
  • Contains measures (e.g., revenue, quantity) for calculations.
  • Includes foreign keys linking to dimension tables.
  • Large row count due to transactional data.
  • Used in DAX measures like SUM(Sales[Revenue]).

Dimension Table

• Definition: A dimension table contains descriptive, categorical data that provide context to facts, used for filtering, grouping, or labeling.
• Purpose: Describes the “who,” “what,” “where,” or “when” of the data (e.g., product names, dates, or customer details).
• Characteristics:
  • Contains attributes (e.g., product name, category).
  • Has a primary key linking to fact table foreign keys.
  • Fewer rows but more descriptive columns.
  • Used in slicers, filters, or chart axes.

75. What Are The Rules Regarding Dimension Tables In Power BI?

In Power BI, dimension tables are critical components of a data model, providing descriptive context (e.g., product names, dates, or customer details) to the quantitative data stored in fact tables. To ensure dimension tables are effective and optimized for Power BI’s data modeling and reporting capabilities, certain rules and best practices should be followed. These rules help maintain performance, usability, and accuracy in your reports. Below is a detailed explanation of the rules regarding dimension tables in Power BI:

Rules and Best Practices for Dimension Tables in Power BI

1. Contain Descriptive Attributes:
   • Dimension tables should store qualitative, descriptive data that provide context for analysis, such as names, categories, dates, or locations.
   • Examples: ProductName, Category, Region, Year, or CustomerName.
   • Avoid including numerical measures (e.g., sales amounts) in dimension tables; these belong in fact tables.
2. Include a Primary Key:
   • Every dimension table must have a unique primary key column that uniquely identifies each row.
   • Example: A Product dimension table might have a ProductKey column with unique values like 101, 102, etc.
   • The primary key is used to create relationships with foreign keys in fact tables.
3. Use Unique Values to Avoid Duplicates:
   • Dimension tables should contain unique records for each entity to prevent redundancy and ensure data integrity.
   • Example: In a Customer dimension, each customer should appear only once with a unique CustomerKey.
   • Use Power Query to remove duplicates during data transformation if necessary.
4. Establish Relationships with Fact Tables:
   • Dimension tables are linked to fact tables via primary key-foreign key relationships in the Power BI Model view.
   • Ensure the primary key in the dimension table (e.g., Product[ProductKey]) matches the foreign key in the fact table (e.g., Sales[ProductKey]).
   • Relationships are typically one-to-many (one dimension record to many fact records).
5. Support Star Schema Design:
   • Dimension tables should be part of a star schema (preferred in Power BI) or, less commonly, a snowflake schema.
   • In a star schema, dimension tables directly connect to a central fact table, keeping the model simple and performant.
   • Avoid overly normalized snowflake schemas (nested dimension tables) unless necessary, as they can complicate queries and reduce performance.
6. Keep Dimension Tables Lean:
   • Include only relevant attributes in dimension tables to minimize storage and improve query performance.
   • Example: For a Product dimension, include ProductKey, ProductName, Category, and Color, but avoid unnecessary columns like temporary or redundant fields.
   • Use Power Query to remove unneeded columns during data import.

76. What Is The Easiest Way To Navigate In Power BI?

Navigating Power BI effectively is key to building, analyzing, and sharing reports efficiently. The easiest way to navigate Power BI depends on your role (e.g., report creator, analyst, or viewer) and whether you’re using Power BI Desktop or the Power BI Service. For most users, the easiest navigation approach involves leveraging Power BI’s intuitive interface, shortcuts, and features designed for quick access to key functionalities.

• Keep Reports Simple: Limit the number of visuals and pages to avoid overwhelming users.
• Use Clear Labels: Name fields, pages, and visuals descriptively (e.g., “Total Sales” instead of “Sum1”).
• Add Navigation Buttons: In Power BI Desktop, insert buttons (Insert > Buttons) to guide users to specific pages or actions.
• Use Tooltips: Hover over visuals to see tooltips with additional data, reducing the need to navigate to separate pages.
• Train Viewers: For end-users, provide a brief guide on using slicers, filters, and drillthroughs to make their experience intuitive.

77. What Are The Various Versions Of Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is available in several versions, each designed for different use cases, deployment environments, and user needs. Below is a comprehensive overview of the various versions of Power BI, based on the latest available information.

Versions of Power BI

1. Power BI Desktop:
   • Description: A free, Windows-based application for creating and designing interactive reports and dashboards. It’s primarily used by analysts and report developers for data modeling, transformation, and visualization.
   • Key Features:
     • Connects to over 70 data sources (cloud and on-premises, e.g., Excel, SQL Server, Salesforce).
     • Includes Power Query for data transformation and DAX for creating measures.
     • Supports drag-and-drop report creation with hundreds of visuals.
     • Allows publishing reports to the Power BI Service or Power BI Report Server.
     • Auto-detects relationships between tables or allows manual relationship creation.
   • Limitations:
     • Free version lacks sharing and collaboration features (requires Power BI Pro for sharing).
     • Files saved in newer versions may not open in older versions, and previous versions aren’t serviced with updates.
   • Use Case: Ideal for individual analysts or small teams creating reports locally before publishing.
   • Availability: Free download for Windows 10/11 and Windows Server 2016/2019 (32-bit deprecated as of August 2025; 64-bit recommended).
2. Power BI Service (PowerBI.com):
   • Description: A cloud-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for hosting, sharing, and collaborating on Power BI reports and dashboards. Previously known as Power BI for Office 365.
   • Key Features:
     • Enables publishing reports from Power BI Desktop for online access.
     • Supports real-time dashboards, collaboration, and sharing (with appropriate licenses).
     • Integrates with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, and other services.
     • Includes AI features like Copilot for natural language queries and insights (e.g., standalone Copilot in preview as of May 2025).
     • Offers a data hub for discovering and reusing datasets within an organization.
   • Licensing:
     • Free: Limited to personal report creation and viewing; no sharing or collaboration.
     • Pro: Per-user license ($10-$14/month, depending on region) for creating, sharing, and collaborating on reports. Required for publishing content unless hosted in Premium capacity.
     • Premium Per User (PPU): Enhanced features (e.g., larger datasets, AI capabilities) at ~$20/month per user or as an add-on for Pro/E5 users.
     • Premium Capacity: Organization-wide license for hosting large datasets (up to 50GB) and sharing with free users (P1 and above or Fabric F64+).
   • Use Case: Best for teams and organizations needing cloud-based collaboration, sharing, and scalability.
   • Availability: Accessible via app.powerbi.com; requires a browser and license for full functionality.
3. Power BI Report Server:
   • Description: An on-premises version of Power BI for organizations that need to keep data and reports within their own infrastructure due to security or regulatory requirements. Requires a special version of Power BI Desktop (Power BI Desktop RS).
   • Key Features:
     • Hosts Power BI reports (.pbix) and paginated reports (RDL) on local servers.
     • Supports SQL Server 2025 as the default on-premises reporting solution, consolidating SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
     • Updates less frequently (every few months) compared to Power BI Desktop/Service.
     • Supports custom visuals and enhanced metadata models (e.g., API version 5.10.0 as of May 2025).
   • Limitations:
     • Lacks some cloud-based features (e.g., real-time dashboards, advanced AI like Direct Lake).
     • Accessible only on-campus or via VPN for some setups (e.g., Davidson’s infrastructure).
   • Licensing: Included with SQL Server Enterprise Edition or Power BI Premium capacity; no per-user license required for viewing.
   • Use Case: Suitable for organizations with strict data residency or compliance needs.
   • Availability: Requires Power BI Desktop RS and a compatible server (e.g., Windows Server).
4. Power BI Mobile Apps:
   • Description: Native apps for iOS, Android, and Windows devices to view and interact with Power BI reports and dashboards on the go.
   • Key Features:
     • Provides live, interactive access to reports and dashboards.
     • Supports touch-based navigation (e.g., tap slicers, swipe pages).
     • Integrates with Power BI Service for real-time data updates.
   • Limitations: Limited to viewing and interacting; report creation requires Power BI Desktop or Service.
   • Use Case: Ideal for mobile users needing to monitor KPIs or access reports remotely.
   • Availability: Free download from App Store, Google Play, or Microsoft Store.
5. Power BI Embedded:
   • Description: A service for embedding Power BI reports and dashboards into custom applications, websites, or portals, available via Microsoft Azure.
   • Key Features:
     • Allows developers to integrate Power BI visuals into apps for both Power BI users and non-users.
     • Supports REST API for programmatic control of reports and dashboards.
     • Scales for enterprise use with dedicated capacity.
   • Licensing: Requires Azure subscription and Power BI Pro/PPU for content creators; viewers may not need licenses if hosted in Premium capacity.
   • Use Case: Best for developers building custom apps with embedded analytics.
   • Availability: Available through Azure; requires setup by developers.

78. Which Gives Better Performance: Calculated Columns Or Measures?

In Power BI, calculated columns and measures serve different purposes, and their performance depends on the use case, data model, and how they are implemented.

To determine which gives better performance, we need to consider their characteristics, how Power BI processes them, and the context of their use.

Below is a detailed comparison of calculated columns vs. measures in terms of performance, along with guidance on when to use each for optimal performance in Power BI.

79. Which Information Is Needed To Create A Map In Power Map?

Power Map, also known as 3D Maps in Microsoft Excel (and integrated with Power BI in some contexts), is a tool for visualizing geospatial data in a 3D environment. To create a map in Power Map, specific types of information are required to ensure accurate and meaningful visualizations.

Information Needed to Create a Map in Power Map  

• Geographic Data (Location Information
• Value Data (Measures or Metrics)
• Time Data (Optional for Animations)
• Category Data (Optional for Grouping)

80. List The Most Common Techniques For Data Shaping?

Data shaping, also known as data transformation or data wrangling, is the process of cleaning, structuring, and preparing raw data for analysis. In tools like Power BI (using Power Query), Excel, or other data processing platforms, several common techniques are used to shape data into a usable format.

1. Filtering:

• Description: Removing rows from a dataset based on specific conditions to focus on relevant data.
• Use Case: Exclude irrelevant or incomplete records (e.g., filter out sales from a specific region or remove rows with null values).
• Example in Power Query: Use the filter dropdown in a column to select values (e.g., keep only rows where Year = 2025).
• Tool/Application: Power BI (Power Query), Excel (Filter), SQL (WHERE clause).

2. Sorting:

• Description: Reordering rows in a dataset based on one or more columns, either ascending or descending.
• Use Case: Organize data for better readability or analysis (e.g., sort sales by date or revenue).
• Example in Power Query: Click Sort Ascending or Sort Descending on a column (e.g., sort OrderDate from oldest to newest).
• Tool/Application: Power BI, Excel, Python (sort_values in pandas).

3. Removing Duplicates:

• Description: Eliminating duplicate rows based on one or more columns to ensure data uniqueness.
• Use Case: Clean datasets with redundant entries (e.g., remove duplicate customer records based on CustomerID).
• Example in Power Query: Select columns and click Remove Duplicates in the Home tab.
• Tool/Application: Power BI, Excel (Remove Duplicates), SQL (DISTINCT).

4. Replacing Values:

• Description: Substituting specific values in a column with new values to standardize or correct data.
• Use Case: Fix inconsistencies or errors (e.g., replace “N/A” with null, or “NY” with “New York”).
• Example in Power Query: Use Replace Values in a column to change “Unknown” to null.
• Tool/Application: Power BI, Excel (Find and Replace), Python (replace in pandas).

5. Splitting Columns:

• Description: Dividing a single column into multiple columns based on a delimiter or fixed position.
• Use Case: Separate combined data (e.g., split “FirstName LastName” into two columns or split an address into street, city, and state).
• Example in Power Query: Select a column and use Split Column by delimiter (e.g., space or comma).
• Tool/Application: Power BI, Excel (Text to Columns), Python (str.split).

Final Take Away

Hence, if you have to face an interview to get the job then you should go through these essential power BI interview questions to meet your needs and goals. It is one of the crucial aspects of Power BI Interviews that you should be well prepared here.

You can share your views and comments in our comment box. This will offer you the opportunity to make the perfect use of Power BI to meet your goals with ease. Here, proper planning holds the key.

Additionally, it can boost the scope of your brand value to a greater level. As these can boost the chances of your brand development. You cannot just make your selection incorrectly while meeting your goals with ease.

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ICA Edu Skills Team

Working with businesses in diverse industries. I'm passionate about helping others understand and manage their finances effectively. This blog is where I share practical tips, insightful guides, and the latest updates on accounting, taxation, GST, TallyPrime, and advanced Excel. Feel free to ask questions, leave comments.

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