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power bi interview questions
Gautam Pardeshi
2 months ago
Introduction
Power BI is a powerful data visualization tool developed by Microsoft that allows businesses to transform data into actionable insights. As more and more organizations adopt Power BI, the demand for skilled Power BI professionals continues to grow. If you're looking for a career in Power BI, you need to be well-prepared for the job interview. To help you get a head start, we've compiled a list of the 73 most frequently asked Power BI interview questions for 2021. In this article, you will find questions on a wide range of topics, from basic Power BI concepts to advanced topics like DAX, Power BI report design, data modeling, and more. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced Power BI professional, this comprehensive list of questions will help you prepare for your next Power BI interview. Whether you are an aspiring data analyst or a seasoned professional, these questions will help you evaluate your Power BI knowledge and identify areas where you need to improve.
Introduction to Power BI
Power BI is a business intelligence and data visualization tool developed by Microsoft. It allows users to connect, transform, and visualize data from various sources, including Excel, SQL Server, and online services like Salesforce and Google Analytics.One of the main features of Power BI is its ability to connect to multiple data sources, allowing users to combine data from different sources and create a single, unified view of their data. Power BI also includes a wide range of data visualization options, including charts, tables, and maps, as well as the ability to create custom visualizations using Power BI's built-in data visualization tools.Power BI also includes a powerful data transformation tool, called Power Query, which allows users to manipulate and transform data from various sources into a format that is suitable for analysis and visualization. This tool can be used to join data from different sources, clean and format data, and perform calculations and aggregations.Power BI also includes a feature called Power Pivot, which allows users to create pivot tables and pivot charts, which are useful for analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns and trends.
Power BI also includes a feature called Power View, which allows users to create interactive, interactive data visualizations that can be embedded in websites, apps, and other platforms.Overall, Power BI is a powerful and versatile tool that is used by businesses, organizations, and individuals to gain insights from their data and make data-driven decisions. It is a powerful tool that can be used to create interactive dashboards, reports, and visualizations that can be shared and distributed across a wide range of platforms and devices.
1. What is Power BI?
Power BI is a business intelligence and data visualization tool developed by Microsoft. It allows users to connect to various data sources, transform and clean the data, create visualizations and reports, and share them with others. Power BI is available as a standalone product or as part of the Microsoft Power Platform. It can be used to create interactive dashboards, charts, and reports that can help users to gain insights from their data.
2. Why use Power BI?
Power BI is a data visualization and business intelligence tool that allows users to connect to a variety of data sources, create interactive reports and dashboards, and share them with others. Some benefits of using Power BI include its ability to:Connect to a wide range of data sources, including Excel, SQL Server, and cloud-based data like Azure and Google Analytics.Create and publish interactive reports and dashboards that can be easily understood by non-technical users.Collaborate with others by sharing reports and dashboards.Use natural language queries to interact with data.Easily create and publish mobile-ready reports.Overall, Power BI helps organizations to gain insights from their data and communicate them effectively to stakeholders.
3. Difference between Power BI and Tableau
Power BI and Tableau are both data visualization and business intelligence tools, but they have some key differences. Power BI is a Microsoft product, and it is more tightly integrated with other Microsoft tools such as Excel and SQL Server. Tableau, on the other hand, is a standalone product that can connect to a wide variety of data sources. Power BI is generally considered to be more user-friendly and better suited for small-to-medium-sized businesses, while Tableau is more powerful and better suited for larger organizations with more complex data needs. Additionally, Tableau has more advanced features such as mapping and data blending while Power BI has a more robust data modeling capability.
4. Difference between Power Query and Power Pivot
Power Query and Power Pivot are both Microsoft Excel tools that are used to manipulate and analyze data. Power Query is used to connect to, retrieve, and transform data from various sources such as databases, text files, and web pages. Power Pivot, on the other hand, is used to create pivot tables and pivot charts, and to create relationships between data tables. It also allows you to perform more advanced data analysis, such as creating calculated columns and measures.
In short, Power Query is used to preparing the data for analysis, and Power Pivot is used to analyze the prepared data.
5. What is Power BI Desktop
Power BI Desktop is a data visualization and business intelligence tool developed by Microsoft. It allows users to connect to various data sources, transform and clean the data, create reports and dashboards, and share them with others. It can be used to create interactive visualizations, charts, and reports that can be easily understood by non-technical users. Power BI Desktop is a powerful tool for data analysis and decision-making in businesses and organizations of all sizes.
6. What is Power Pivot?
Power Pivot is an add-in for Microsoft Excel that allows users to perform powerful data analysis and create sophisticated data models. It allows users to connect to various data sources, create relationships between them, and use that data to create pivot tables and pivot charts. Power Pivot also includes a formula language, called DAX (Data Analysis Expressions), which allows for advanced calculations and aggregations to be performed on the data. With Power Pivot, users can analyze large amounts of data and create more advanced and interactive reports than with traditional Excel tools.
7. What is Power Query?
Power Query is a data connection and manipulation tool that is integrated into Microsoft Excel and can also be used as a stand-alone application. It allows users to connect to various data sources, perform advanced data transformations and shaping, and then load the transformed data into a worksheet or into the data model within Excel for further analysis. Power Query can also be used to publish data models to the Power BI service for use in dashboards and reports.
8. What is DAX?
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a formula language used in Microsoft Excel and Power BI to create custom calculations and aggregations for data modeling and reporting. It is similar to Excel formulas but is designed to work with relational data and perform dynamic aggregation. DAX can be used to create calculated tables and columns, define relationships between tables, and create measures and calculated columns for data analysis.
9. What are Filters in Power BI?
In Power BI, filters are used to limit the data that is displayed in a visual or report. They can be applied to one or more columns in a dataset and can be used to include or exclude specific values. There are several types of filters available in Power BI, including basic filters, relative date filters, and advanced filters. Filters can be applied to a visual, a page, or the entire report, and they can be combined to create more complex filtering conditions. They help in drilling down the data, focusing on specific areas of data, and comparing data.
10. What are Custom Visuals in Power BI?
Custom visuals in Power BI are additional visualizations that can be added to the software to enhance the data representation capabilities of the platform. They are developed by third-party developers and can be downloaded from the Power BI Marketplace. Some examples of custom visuals include Gantt charts, sunburst diagrams, and heat maps. These visuals can be used to present data in a more engaging and interactive way and can help users to better understand and analyze their data.
11. What is GetData in Power BI?
GetData in Power BI is a feature that allows users to connect to and retrieve data from various data sources, such as databases, files, and web services. It enables users to combine, transform, and clean data in order to create visualizations, reports, and dashboards in Power BI. The data can be imported or connected to and then used to create visualizations and reports in Power BI.
12. Name the different connectivity modes available in Power BI?
There are several connectivity modes available in Power BI:
- DirectQuery: Allows users to query data in the data source directly.
- Live Connection: Allows users to connect to data sources in real time and refresh data automatically.
- Import: Allows users to import data into the Power BI data model and create a static copy of the data.
- Composite Models: Allows users to combine data from multiple data sources and create relationships between them.
- Power BI Dataflow: Allows users to create a reusable, managed data pipeline for use in Power BI and other applications.
- Power BI Paginated Reports allows you to create and view paginated reports in Power BI.
13. What are the various types of refresh options provided in Power BI?
In Power BI, there are several options for refreshing data:Manual refresh: Allows you to manually refresh the data in your report by clicking the "Refresh" button.Automatic refresh: This allows you to set a schedule for the data in your report to be automatically refreshed at specific intervals.Data streaming: Allows you to stream data in real-time into your report, either by connecting to a streaming data source or by using the Power BI API.One-time refresh: Allows you to refresh all the data in your report one time.Incremental refresh: Allows you to refresh only the data that has changed since the last refresh. This option is only available for certain data sources.DirectQuery: Allows you to connect to the underlying data source and query it directly, instead of loading the data into the Power BI model.Live connection: Allows you to connect to a report that was created in another service (such as Analysis Services or Power BI Report Server) and view it in Power BI without having to import the data into the Power BI model.Power Automate: Allows you to use Power Automate to refresh a dataset using a flow.You can choose the appropriate refresh option based on the data source, data size, and how frequently the data changes.
14. Name the data sources can Power BI can connect to?
Power BI can connect to a variety of data sources, including:
Excel filesSQL Server databasesAccess databasesOracle databasesMySQL databasesPostgreSQL databasesDB2 databasesTeradata databasesSAP HANA databasesSharePoint listsOData feedsWeb pagesJSON filesCSV filesSharePoint OnlineGoogle AnalyticsSalesforceMicrosoft Dynamics 365Azure SQL DatabaseAzure Data Lake StorageAzure Data ExplorerAzure Synapse AnalyticsAzure Analysis ServicesAzure Blob Storage , and many more.15. What is a dashboard in Power BI?A dashboard in Power BI is a collection of visualizations, charts, and other data representations that can be used to analyze and monitor data. It allows users to quickly view key metrics and insights, and can be shared with others for collaboration and decision-making. Dashboards can be created using data from various sources and can be customized to display information in a way that is most relevant and useful to the user.
16. Explain how relationships are defined in Power BI Desktop?
In Power BI Desktop, relationships are defined between tables in a data model to establish a connection between the data in those tables. This allows data from multiple tables to be combined and used in a single visualization or report. Relationships are defined by creating a link between one or more columns in one table (the "primary" table) and one or more columns in another table (the "related" table). The columns used to define the relationship are called "keys". The key in the primary table is known as the "primary key" and the key in the related table is known as the "foreign key". In Power BI Desktop, you can create relationships between tables by using the "Manage relationships" option in the "Home" tab of the ribbon.
17. Can you have more than one functional relationship between two tables in a Power Pivot data model?
Yes, it is possible to have more than one functional relationship between two tables in a Power Pivot data model. However, it is generally not recommended as it can lead to confusion and can make it difficult to understand the relationships between tables. It is best to have a clear, defined relationship between tables in a data model.
18. Can you have a table in the model which does not have any relationship with other tables?
Yes, you can have a table in the model which does not have any relationship with other tables in Power BI. This is known as a "floating table" and can be useful in certain scenarios, such as when you want to import data from a source that is not related to any other data in your model. However, it is important to note that floating tables may negatively impact performance and make it more difficult to create accurate and meaningful visualizations.
19. What is the CALCULATE function in DAX?
The CALCULATE function in DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a powerful function that allows you to modify the filter context of a calculation in a formula. It can be used to add, remove, or change the filters that are applied to a calculation, and it can also be used to specify the filters to be used by other DAX functions that are used in the formula. The CALCULATE function can be used in combination with other DAX functions to create more advanced calculations, such as dynamic aggregation and ranking.
Power BI Interview Questions For Intermediate Level
20. Where is data stored in Power BI?
In Power BI, data can be stored in a variety of locations, including:
In the Power BI data model, using Power Query to connect to and shape data from various sources, such as Excel files, databases, and web services.
In external data sources, such as a SQL Server database, an Excel file, or a SharePoint list. These data sources can be connected to Power BI using a variety of connectors, such as the "SQL Server" connector or the "Excel" connector.
In the Power BI service, use the "Import" option to upload a flat file, such as a CSV or Excel file.
In the cloud, using Power BI's support for cloud-based data sources, such as Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, and Azure Analysis Services.
It's also worth noting that you can use Power BI's DirectQuery and Live Connection feature to connect to and query data from your data sources in real time without having to import the data.
21. What is row-level security?
Row-level security (RLS) in Power BI is a feature that allows administrators to control access to data in a report based on user roles. This means that different users can be assigned to different roles, and each role can be restricted to view only a subset of the data in the report. RLS is implemented by creating a set of rules that define which data should be visible to which roles, using a combination of filter conditions and table relationships. These rules are then applied to the data when the report is accessed by a user, ensuring that users can only see the data that they are authorized to view.
22. Why should you apply general formatting to Power BI data?
Applying general formatting to Power BI data can help improve the readability and overall aesthetics of the data visualizations, making it easier for users to understand and interpret the information being presented. This can include adjusting font sizes, colors, and styles, as well as aligning and spacing elements in a consistent and visually appealing manner. Additionally, general formatting can help to highlight important data points or trends, making it easier for users to identify key insights from the data.
23. What are the different views available in Power BI Desktop?
In Power BI Desktop, there are several different views available:
- Report view: This is the main view where you create and design your report. You can add visuals, tables, and other elements to your report in this view.
- Data view: This view allows you to manage and manipulate the data used in your report. You can create relationships, import data, and transform data in this view.
- Model view: This view allows you to see the underlying data model for your report, including the tables and columns used, as well as any relationships or calculated columns.
- Dashboard view: This view allows you to create and design dashboards, which are collections of visuals and other elements that can be shared with others.
- Relationships view: This view allows you to create and manage relationships between tables in your data model.
- Q&A view: This view allows you to ask natural language questions about your data and see the results in the form of visuals.
- Preview view: This view allows you to view and interact with your report as it will appear when published.24. What are the various versions of Power BI?
There are currently three versions of Power BI available: Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, and Power BI Report Server.
- Power BI Desktop is a Windows application that allows users to connect to various data sources, transform and clean the data, create reports and visualizations, and then publish those reports to the Power BI Service.
- Power BI Service is a cloud-based platform that allows users to view and interact with reports and dashboards that were created in Power BI Desktop. It also allows for real-time collaboration and data sharing with other users.
- Power BI Report Server is an on-premises solution that allows users to host and manage Power BI reports within their own organization's infrastructure. It provides similar functionality to the Power BI Service, but with the added control and security of running the service on-premises.
25. Explain the building blocks of Microsoft Power BI.
Microsoft Power BI is a data visualization and business intelligence tool that allows users to connect to various data sources, transform and clean the data, create interactive visualizations and reports, and share them with others. The building blocks of Power BI include:
- Data Sources: Power BI allows users to connect to a wide variety of data sources, including Excel, CSV, SQL databases, and cloud-based platforms such as Azure and Google Analytics.
- Data Transformation: Once data is imported, Power BI allows users to clean, transform, and shape the data using Power Query, a data connection and transformation tool.
- Visualizations: Power BI provides a wide range of visualizations, including charts, tables, and maps, that can be used to represent data in an interactive and informative way.
- Reports: Users can create interactive reports by combining multiple visualizations and adding filters, slicers, and drill-through actions.
- Dashboards: Users can create dashboards by arranging multiple reports and visualizations on a single page, and sharing them with others.
- Power BI Mobile App: Power BI also has a mobile app that allows users to access visualizations and reports on their mobile devices and it also provides offline access.
26. What are the critical components of the Power BI toolkit?
The critical components of the Power BI toolkit are:
- Data Connectors: Power BI offers a wide range of data connectors to connect to various data sources such as Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint, and more.
- Data Transformation: Power Query (also known as "M") is used for data cleaning, shaping, and transformation.
- Data Modeling: Power BI Desktop allows you to create relationships between tables, create calculated columns and measures, and define hierarchies.
- Visualizations: Power BI offers a wide range of visualizations such as bar charts, line charts, scatter plots, and more.
- Reports: Reports are the final output of Power BI, which can be created by arranging visualizations on a canvas.
- Dashboards: A dashboard is a collection of visualizations and reports that can be shared with others.
- Sharing and Collaboration: Power BI allows users to share and collaborate on reports and dashboards with others.
27. What do you mean by the content pack?
A content pack in Power BI is a pre-packaged collection of reports, dashboards, and datasets that can be easily imported into a Power BI workspace. Content packs are created by organizations and can be used to share data and insights with other members of the organization or with external partners. They are a way to share and reuse work across teams and to make it easy for others to get started with a specific dataset or set of reports.
28. Define bi-directional cross-filtering.
In Power BI, bi-directional cross-filtering refers to the ability for multiple visuals on a report page to interact with each other. This means that when a user selects a data point in one visual, it will automatically filter the data in other visuals on the same page. This feature allows for more intuitive and efficient data exploration, as users can quickly see how different aspects of their data are related to each other.
29. What are the three fundamental concepts of DAX?
The three fundamental concepts of DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) are:
- The use of formulas and expressions to perform calculations on data in a table or column.
- The ability to create calculated columns and tables, which are derived from existing data and can be used in further calculations or as a basis for pivot tables and other data visualizations.
- The use of time intelligence functions, which allow for calculations such as year-to-date totals or running totals over a specified time period, makes it easier to analyze data over time.
30. Why and how would you use a custom visual file?
Power BI is a business intelligence tool that allows users to connect to various data sources, visualize and analyze data, and create interactive and shareable dashboards. Custom visuals are user-created visualizations that can be added to Power BI to enhance the built-in visualizations and provide additional functionality.
To use a custom visual in Power BI, you would first need to install it from the Power BI Custom Visuals Marketplace. Once installed, the custom visual will be available in the "Visualizations" pane, alongside the built-in visuals. You can then select the custom visual and use it in the same way you would use a built-in visual.
Custom visuals can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as:
- Showing data in a unique and more meaningful way
- Visualizing data that is not easily represented with built-in visuals
- Adding functionality that is not available in built-in visuals, such as the ability to interact with the visualization in a specific way
- Meeting the specific needs of your organization or industry
- You can also create your own custom visual by using the Power BI Custom Visual Tool and share it with others.
31. What are some familiar sources for data in the Get Data menu in Power BI?
Some familiar sources for data in the Get Data menu in Power BI include:
- Excel files
- CSV files
- SQL Server databases
- SharePoint lists
- Access databases
- Power BI datasets
- Analysis Services databases
- Oracle databases
- IBM DB2 databases
- MySQL databases
- PostgreSQL databases
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention
- Salesforce
- Google Analytics
- Microsoft Exchange
- Dynamics 365
- Azure SQL Database
- Azure Data Lake Storage
- Azure Data Explorer
- Azure Cosmos DB
- Azure Table Storage
- Azure Blob Storage
- Azure Data Factory
- SharePoint Online List
- OneDrive for Business
- Oracle databases
and many more.
32. What are the categories of data types?
There are several categories of data types, including:
- Primitive data types: These are the basic data types that are built into a programming language, such as integers, floating-point numbers, and characters.
- Non-primitive data types: These are data types that are derived from primitive data types, such as arrays and structures.
- Abstract data types: These are data types that are used to define the behavior of an object, such as classes and interfaces in object-oriented programming.
- User-defined data types: These are data types that are defined by the user, such as custom classes and structs.
33. Name some commonly used tasks in the Query Editor.
- Filtering data to only show specific rows or columns
- Sorting data in ascending or descending order
- Grouping data by certain fields or dimensions
- Renaming columns or changing data types
- Merging or joining multiple tables together
- Creating calculated columns or measures using formulas or expressions
- Splitting columns into multiple columns
- Removing duplicates or outliers from the data
- Pivoting or unpivoting data to change the structure of the table
- Applying data transformations such as aggregation, summarization, or normalization.
34. What do you mean by grouping?
In Power BI, grouping refers to the process of combining multiple data fields or columns into a single field or group. This allows users to better organize and analyze their data, as well as create more advanced visualizations and reports. For example, a user may group multiple product categories together in order to analyze sales data by product type, or group multiple years of data together in order to analyze trends over time. Grouping can be done manually or through the use of advanced grouping options and algorithms.
35. What is query folding in Power BI?
Query folding in Power BI refers to the process of converting a query written in the Power Query language into a series of operations that can be executed by a database management system (DBMS) or a data source. This process allows Power BI to retrieve only the data that is needed for a specific report or visualization, rather than retrieving all of the data from the data source. Query folding can improve performance and reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred, stored, and processed.
36. What is "M language."
"M language" is the language used to create data transformation and modeling formulas in Power BI. It is also known as "Power Query" or "DAX" (Data Analysis Expressions). M language is used in Power Query Editor to create custom data connectors, and data transformations and in Power BI Desktop to create custom calculations using DAX. It is a functional and expressive language, that allows you to manipulate and shape data in a variety of ways, such as filtering, sorting, and aggregation. It is also used to create calculated columns, tables, and measures in Power BI.
Power BI Interview Questions For Experienced
37. What are the major differences between visual-level, page-level, and report-level filters in Power BI?
- Visual-level filters in Power BI apply to a single visual on a report page. They filter the data that is displayed within that vision but do not affect other visuals on the same page.
- Page-level filters in Power BI apply to all visuals on a single report page. They filter the data that is displayed within all of the visuals on the page and can be used to synchronize the data across multiple visuals on the same page.
- Report-level filters in Power BI apply to all visuals across all report pages. They filter the data that is displayed within all of the visuals on all pages of the report and can be used to synchronize the data across multiple pages of a report.
In summary, visual-level filters apply to one visual, page-level filters apply to all visuals on a page, and report-level filters apply to all visuals in the entire report.
38. How is the Schedule Refresh feature designed to work?
The Schedule Refresh feature is designed to automatically refresh data from a specified data source, such as a database or an API, at a set interval. This allows users to ensure that the data in their reports and dashboards is up-to-date and accurate without manual intervention. Users can set the frequency of the refresh, and can also configure the feature to only refresh the data during specific times of the day or on specific days of the week. Additionally, some platforms also allow for an on-demand refresh for specific reports or dashboards, giving users the flexibility to refresh the data whenever they need it.
39. What information is needed to create a map in Power Map?
To create a map in Power Map, you will need data that contains location information, such as latitude and longitude coordinates or street addresses. You can use Excel or a spreadsheet program to organize your data and then import it into Power Map to create the map. Additionally, you may also need to format your data in a specific way, such as grouping data by location or adding a field to indicate the type of data being displayed on the map.
40. Which in-memory analytics engine does Power Pivot use?
Power Pivot uses xVelocity, an in-memory analytics engine, to analyze and process large amounts of data quickly.
41. Mention important components of SSAS
The main components of SSAS (SQL Server Analysis Services) in Power BI include:
- Data source: The source of data that is used to create the SSAS cube. This can include databases, CSV files, and Excel spreadsheets.
- Data source view: A virtual view of the data source that is used to define the relationships between the tables in the data source.
- Cube: A multi-dimensional representation of the data that is used for data analysis. It is made up of dimensions and measures.
- Dimensions: The categories by which the data is organized and analyzed. Examples include time, location, and product.
- Measures: The data that is used for analysis and calculations, such as sales and profit.
- Calculations: Custom calculations that can be defined and applied to the measures in the cube.
- Partitions: A way to divide a cube into smaller, more manageable chunks for better performance.
- Roles: A way to control access to the cube and its data.
42. What are the three fundamental concepts of DAX?
The three fundamental concepts of DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) are:
- Functions: DAX includes a library of functions that can be used to perform calculations and manipulate data.
- Expressions: DAX expressions are used to define calculations, such as a column or measure formulas in a Power BI data model.
- Context: DAX calculations are performed in the context of the current row or current filter in a table, which can affect the results of the calculation.
43. Name the variety of Power BI Formats.
There are several different types of visualizations or "formats" available in Power BI, including
- Bar chart
- Column chart
- Line charts
- Area chart
- Pie charts
- Scatter charts
- Card
- Table
- Matrix
- Treemaps
- Map
- gauge
- Funnel
- Combo chart
- Donut charts
- Stacked area chart
- Waterfall chart
- Treemap
- Sunburst
- Heatmap
- Play Axis
- Slicer
- Drillthrough
- Custom visual
Note that the above list is not exhaustive and Microsoft may add new formats over time.
44. What are the different stages in the working of Power BI?
Power BI has several stages in its working process, including
- Data Connectivity: This stage involves connecting to various data sources such as Excel files, databases, and web services.
- Data Preparation: In this stage, data is cleaned, transformed, and modeled to make it ready for analysis.
- Data Visualization: This stage involves creating visualizations such as charts, graphs, and maps to represent the data in a meaningful way.
- Data Exploration: In this stage, users can interact with the visualizations and explore the data to gain insights and make data-driven decisions.
- Data Sharing and Collaboration: This stage allows users to share their Power BI dashboards and reports with others within their organization.
- Data Management: In this stage, users can manage their data and access to it through Power BI's security and data governance features.
45. Which professionals use Power BI the most?
Power BI is a business intelligence and data visualization tool that is primarily used by business analysts, data scientists, and other professionals in the business and data analysis fields. It is also used by IT professionals and developers to create reports and dashboards for internal or external clients. Additionally, Power BI is commonly used by executives and managers to access and analyze data to make strategic business decisions.
46. What is the advanced editor?
The advanced editor in Power BI is a feature that allows users to edit the M (Power Query) code that is used to create and transform data in a Power BI report. This feature provides a more flexible and powerful way to manipulate data and can be useful for more complex data cleaning and transformation tasks. It allows the users to write and edit code in the M language, which is used by the Power Query engine to retrieve and transform data. This can be useful for advanced users who have experience with programming and data manipulation.
47. What gateways does Power BI have and why should you use them?
Power BI has several gateway options, including the following:
- On-premises data gateway: Allows users to connect to data sources that are located on-premises, such as SQL Server or Oracle databases.
- Personal gateway: Allows users to connect to data sources that are located on their personal computers, such as Excel or Access files.
- Enterprise gateway: Allows users to connect to data sources that are located on-premises and shared among multiple users, such as SQL Server or Oracle databases.
- Power BI Gateway - Cloud-based: Allows users to connect to cloud-based data sources, such as Azure SQL Database or Azure Data Lake Storage.
You should use a gateway when you need to connect to data sources that are not in the cloud, or when you need to share data sources with other users in your organization. Gateways provide a secure and reliable way to connect to and manage your data sources, and they allow you to schedule data refreshes so that your reports are always up-to-date.
48. Mention some applications of Power BI
Some applications of Power BI include:
- Business intelligence and data visualization
- Creating and sharing interactive dashboards and reports
- Connecting to various data sources, such as Excel, SQL Server, and cloud-based services like Azure and Google Analytics
- Data modeling and analysis
- Building custom visualizations and adding them to reports.
- Collaboration and sharing of insights across an organization.
- Creating real-time reports and alerting on data changes.
49. How can you depict a story in Power BI?
A story in Power BI can be depicted using a combination of visuals, such as charts, tables, and maps, along with text and images to provide context and narrative. The Power BI "Storytelling" feature allows users to create a series of pages, each containing one or more visuals and a text box, that can be used to walk through a story or analysis. Users can also add interactive elements, such as buttons, to allow viewers to navigate through the story and explore the data in more depth. Additionally, Power BI provides various built-in and custom visualizations that can be used to depict a story in an engaging way.
50. What are KPIs in Power BI?
In Power BI, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are metrics used to measure the performance of a business or organization against specific goals and objectives. Examples of KPIs include sales revenue, customer satisfaction, and employee turnover rate. These metrics can be displayed in a variety of visualizations, such as charts and tables, and can be used to track performance over time and identify areas for improvement.
51. What is a Slicer?
A slicer in Power BI is a visual filter that allows users to quickly and easily filter data in a report or dashboard. Slicers allow users to select one or more items from a list, and filter the data in the report based on those selections. Slicers can be used to filter data by date, category, or other dimensions. They can also be used to filter data across multiple visualizations in a report, making it easy to drill down into specific data sets and analyze them in more detail.
52. Explain Power BI Designer.
Power BI Designer is a tool for creating and customizing data visualizations and reports in the Power BI platform. It allows users to connect to various data sources, clean and transform the data, and create interactive visualizations and dashboards that can be shared with others. Power BI Designer also offers a wide range of customization options, including the ability to create calculated columns and measures, add custom visuals, and publish to the Power BI service. It is a free tool.
53. How do you reshape data in Power BI?
In Power BI, you can reshape data by using the "Edit Queries" feature. This feature allows you to transform and shape your data using various tools, such as filtering, sorting, and grouping. You can also use the "Transform" tab to reshape your data by pivoting or unpivoting columns, splitting or merging columns, or replacing values. Additionally, you can use the "Add Column" tab to add new columns to your data based on calculations or formulas. To access these features, you will need to open the "Edit Queries" window by clicking on the "Edit Queries" button in the "Home" tab.
Power BI Basic Interview Questions – General Questions
54. How would you define Power BI as an effective solution?
Power BI is a business intelligence and data visualization tool that allows users to connect to various data sources, transform and clean the data, create interactive reports and dashboards, and share them with others. It is an effective solution because it provides a user-friendly interface, a wide range of data visualization options, and the ability to easily share and collaborate on reports and dashboards. Additionally, it integrates with other Microsoft tools, such as Excel and Dynamics, making it a valuable addition to a company's data analysis workflow.
55. What are the major components of Power BI?
The major components of Power BI are
- Power BI Desktop: a Windows application for creating and publishing reports.
- Power BI Service: a cloud-based service for accessing, sharing, and collaborating on reports.
- Power BI Mobile: mobile apps for accessing reports on iOS and Android devices.
- Power BI Report Server: an on-premises solution for creating, managing, and delivering reports.
- Power BI Premium: a paid service offering additional features and capacity for organizations that need more robust capabilities.
56. What are the various Power BI versions?
Power BI is a business intelligence and data visualization tool developed by Microsoft. There are several versions of Power BI available, including
- Power BI Desktop: a free standalone application for Windows that allows users to create and publish interactive visualizations and reports.
- Power BI Pro: a paid version of Power BI that adds additional features such as collaboration and sharing capabilities.
- Power BI Premium: a more advanced version of Power BI Pro that adds
57. Is Power BI free to use?
Power BI has both a free and a paid version. The free version, called Power BI Desktop, allows users to create and view reports and visualizations. The paid version, called Power BI Pro, adds features such as the ability to share and collaborate on reports, as well as additional data connectors and data refreshes. Additionally, Power BI Premium is another paid version of the product which is built on top of Power BI Pro and provides additional scalability and performance capabilities for organizations that need it.
58. What is the purpose of the ‘Get Data’ icon in Power BI?
The 'Get Data' icon in Power BI is used to connect to and import data from various sources, such as a CSV file, an Excel file, or a database. This data can then be used to create visualizations and reports within the Power BI platform.
59. How can we filter data in Power BI?
There are several ways to filter data in Power BI:
- Using the filter pane: This allows you to filter data based on a specific column or field. You can use the filter pane to filter data by selecting a value, or a range of values, or using advanced filtering options.
- Using the visualization-level filters: You can also filter data at the visualization level by selecting the data points you want to include or exclude in a visualization.
- Using the report-level filters: You can also filter data at the report level, which applies the filter to all the visualizations in the report.
- Using the DAX formula: You can create a DAX formula that filters data based on a specific condition or set of conditions.
- Using bookmarks: You can also create a bookmark to save a specific view of your data and then easily switch between different views.
- Using Drillthrough: You can also filter data based on a selected data point, allowing you to see more details about that point.
60. How is Power BI different from other BI tools?
Power BI is a business intelligence and data visualization tool developed by Microsoft. It is different from other BI tools in several ways:
- User-friendly interface: Power BI has a user-friendly interface that allows users to easily create and share interactive visualizations and reports.
- Integration with Microsoft products: Power BI is seamlessly integrated with other Microsoft products such as Excel, SharePoint, and Azure, allowing for easy data sharing and collaboration.
- Cloud-based: Power BI is a cloud-based tool, which means that users can access their data and reports from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Customizable: Power BI offers a wide range of customization options, including the ability to create custom visualizations and the use of R and Python scripts.
- Open API: Power BI has open API, which means you can easily connect to external data sources and bring data into Power BI for analysis.
- Cost: Power BI offers a free version and also a paid version with more features and capabilities.
- Mobile compatibility: Power BI also offers mobile compatibility, which allows users to view and interact with their reports on their smartphones and tablets.
61. What are the advantages of using Power BI?
There are several advantages to using Power BI, including
- Easy data visualization: Power BI allows users to quickly and easily create interactive charts, graphs, and reports from a variety of data sources.
- Real-time data: Power BI can connect to various data sources and update visualizations in real-time, allowing for up-to-date insights.
- Collaboration: Power BI allows for easy sharing and collaboration on visualizations and reports, so teams can work together on data analysis.
- Customization: Power BI offers a wide range of customization options, allowing users to tailor visualizations and reports to their specific needs.
- Scalability: Power BI can handle large amounts of data and can scale to meet the needs of organizations of any size.
- Integration: Power BI integrates with other Microsoft products like Excel, and also with other data sources like Google Analytics, Salesforce, and more.
62. How can you refresh data in Power BI?
In Power BI, you can refresh data in a few different ways:
- Manual Refresh: You can manually refresh data by selecting the "Refresh" button from the Home tab on the ribbon.
- Automatic Refresh: You can set up automatic refresh for a dataset by selecting the dataset in the "Datasets" tab and then selecting the "Schedule Refresh" button.
- DirectQuery and Live Connection: Power BI allows you to create a DirectQuery or Live Connection to your data source, which means that the data in your report is always up-to-date with the data in the source.
- Power Automate: You can use Power Automate to schedule the refresh of your data and automate the data pipeline.
- Power BI API: You can use Power BI REST API to refresh the data programmatically.
63. What is the Time Intelligence function?
The Time Intelligence function in Power BI is a set of DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) formulas that allow users to perform time-related calculations on data. These calculations include things like year-to-date totals, year-over-year comparisons, and running totals. The Time Intelligence functions make it easy to create dynamic time-based reports and visualizations in Power BI.
64. What are the different views on Power BI Desktop?
Power BI Desktop has several different views or modes that allow you to interact with and analyze your data in different ways. These include
- Report view: This is the default view in Power BI Desktop and allows you to create and design your report using visualizations such as charts, tables, and maps.
- Data view: This view allows you to view and manipulate the underlying data used in your report. You can add and remove columns, apply filters, and create new measures and calculated columns.
- Relationship view: This view allows you to create and manage relationships between different tables in your data model.
- Model view: This view allows you to view and edit the structure of your data model, including tables, columns, and relationships.
- Preview: This view allows you to preview the final report in a read-only mode, before publishing it to the Power BI service.
65. What is row-level security?
Row-level security (RLS) in Power BI is a feature that allows users to restrict access to data at the row level, based on user roles and filter conditions. This means that users are only able to see data that is relevant to them and cannot access data that they should not have access to. This helps to ensure data security and privacy by limiting the amount of data that each user is able to see. RLS is implemented by creating roles and defining filter conditions for each role, which determine which rows of data a user in that role is able to see.
66. What is bidirectional cross-filtering in Power BI?
Bidirectional cross-filtering in Power BI is a feature that allows users to create relationships between tables in a data model, and then filter data in one table based on the data in another table. This allows for more flexible and dynamic data analysis, as users can easily explore different aspects of their data by filtering on multiple tables at once. The filtering can flow in both directions, meaning that selecting a value in one table can filter the other table and vice versa.
67. Name the different connectivity modes available in Power BI.
There are several connectivity modes available in Power BI:
- Import: This mode allows you to import data into the Power BI Desktop and create a static report.
- DirectQuery: This mode allows you to create a report that is based on a live connection to the data source. The data is not imported into the report but is queried directly from the data source each time the report is opened or refreshed.
- Live Connection: This mode allows you to create a report that is based on a live connection to a Power BI dataset in the Power BI service.
- Composite Models: It allows you to combine data from multiple data sources and create a single model for reporting.
- Power BI Dataflow: A dataflow is a way to create a reusable, managed, and versioned dataset that can be used by multiple reports and dashboards.
- Power BI Paginated Report: Power BI paginated reports are similar to traditional SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports. It allows you to create tabular reports with more advanced layouts and design options.
68. Where do you reshape data in Power BI?
In Power BI, data can be reshaped using the "Transform" tab in the "Home" ribbon. The "Transform" tab includes options such as "Pivot Column," "Unpivot Columns," "Group By," and "Split Columns," which can be used to reshape and manipulate data. Additionally, the "Power Query" feature, accessed through the "Edit Queries" option in the "Home" tab, can also be used for advanced data reshaping and transformation.
69. List out some drawbacks/limitations of using Power BI.
- Power BI can be resource-intensive, which can slow down performance on older or underpowered computers.
- Power BI has limitations on data volume, which can make it difficult to work with large data sets.
- Power BI's data visualization capabilities are limited compared to other BI tools.
- Power BI's collaboration features are limited and require additional licenses.
- Power BI doesn't support real-time data analysis and visualization.
- Power BI's data refresh capabilities are limited, which can make it difficult to work with dynamic data.
- Power BI's data modeling capabilities are limited compared to other BI tools.
- Power BI's native data connectors are limited compared to other BI tools.
- Power BI's integration with other systems can be difficult and require additional development effort.
- Power BI's pricing can be expensive for large organizations with many users.
70. What are the most common DAX functions used?
- SUM: Sums up the values of a column or table.COUNT: Counts the number of rows in a column or table.
- AVERAGE: Calculates the average of a column or table.
- MAX: Returns the maximum value of a column or table.
- MIN: Returns the minimum value of a column or table.
- CONCATENATE: Combines two or more text strings into one.
- IF: Evaluates a logical test and returns one value if the test is true and another value if the test is false.
- FILTER: Filters a table based on certain conditions.
- RELATED: Returns the value of a related column in a related table.
- RANKX: Returns the rank of a value within a column or table.
71. What are the different Excel BI add-ins?
There are several Excel add-ins that are part of the Power BI ecosystem, including
- Power Query: Allows users to connect to various data sources, clean and transform data, and then load it into the Excel data model.
- Power Pivot: Enables users to create advanced data models, including relationships, calculations, and hierarchies, within Excel.
- Power View: Allows users to create interactive data visualizations, such as charts and tables, within Excel.Power Map: Helps users create 3D maps and visualizations of location-based data within Excel.
- Power BI Desktop: A separate application that allows users to create interactive reports and dashboards using data from various sources, including Excel.
- Power BI Service: A cloud-based service that allows users to share and collaborate on Power BI reports and dashboards with others.
- Power Automate - A service that allows users to automate workflows and business processes using Power BI and other tools.
73. Which language is used in Power Query?
Power Query uses a language called "M" (also known as "Power Query Formula Language" or "Data Mashup Language") which is a functional language that is used to manipulate data and create queries. It is similar to other functional languages such as F#, but with a syntax that is optimized for working with data. It can be used to extract, transform, and load data from various sources, including Excel, Access, and SQL Server.
74. What are the primary requirements for a table to be used in Power Map?
To be used in Power Map, a table must have at least one column of geographic data (such as a city, state, or latitude/longitude) and at least one column of numeric data (such as sales or population) that can be used to create a map visualization. Additionally, the table should be in a format that can be imported into Power Map, such as a CSV or Excel file.
75. What are the most common data-shaping techniques?
The most common data-shaping techniques include
- Filtering: Selecting a subset of the data based on certain criteria.Sorting: arranging the data in a particular order.
- Aggregating: grouping the data and calculating summary statistics.Pivoting: reorganizing the data to place different variables in different columns or rows.
- Melting: unstacking a data frame from wide format to long format.Reshaping: changing the layout of the data to make it easier to work with.
- Binning: grouping numerical data into a smaller number of discrete "bins".One-hot encoding: converting categorical variables into a numerical format.
76. Which In-memory Analytics Engine is used in Power Pivot?
Power Pivot uses the xVelocity in-memory analytics engine.
77. Is it possible to refresh Power BI Reports after they are published to the cloud?
Yes, it is possible to refresh Power BI reports after they are published to the cloud. The refresh schedule can be set to automatically update the report data at a specific interval, or it can be manually refreshed by the report users or administrators. Additionally, the report data can also be programmatically refreshed using the Power BI REST API or Power BI Dataflows.
Summary:
This article lists 73 commonly asked Power BI interview questions for the year 2021. The questions cover various aspects of Power BI, including data modeling, DAX, visualization, Power BI Desktop, and Power BI Service. The questions are intended to help interviewees prepare for a Power BI-related job interview.