Top 50 Power BI Interview Questions By ATH

1. Top 50 PowerBIInterview Questions ByAnalyticsTraining Hub Datavisualization Data visualization has come a long way from creating pie or graph charts in MS Excel. Since the launch of Power BI by Microsoft a few years back looking into data had never been this interactive and fun. The demand for Power BI as a business intelligence/data visualization tool has only risen in the past few years and a lot of companies hire individuals to post a thorough knowledge search of this tool viainterviews. • So, here are some Power BI Interview Questions that the user might find helpful in the user’s quest to face the interview. • Q1. What is a PowerBI? • Power BI is a cloud-based data-sharing environment. Once the user has developed reports using Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power View. The user can share his/her insights with colleagues. This is where Power BI enters the equation. Power BI allows the operator to upload Excel workbooks into the Power BI cloud and share them with a chosen group of co-workers. Not only that, the colleagues can interact with the user’s reports to apply filters and slicers to highlight data. It is a simple way of sharing the user’s analysis andinsightsfromtheMicrosoftcloudwiththerestofthedepartment. • Power BI features allow the userto: • Share presentations and queries withpeers.

2. Update the Excel file from data sources that can be on-site or in the cloud. • Display the infographic on multiple devices like desktops, tablets, and tfTML 5-enabled smartphones that can use the Power BIapp. • Query the user data using natural language processing (or Q&A, as it isknown) • Q2. What is self-service businessintelligence? • Self-Service Business Intelligence(SSBI) • SSBI is a tactic for data analytics that allows trade users to filter, segment, andanalyze their data, without in-depth technical knowledge in statistical analysis, and business intelligence(BI). • SSBI has made it stress-free for end-users to access their data and craft various visuals to get healthier businessinsights. • Anybody who has a rudimentary grasp of data can generate reports to build instinctive and shareable dashboards. • Q3. What is the Power BIDesktop? • Power BI Desktop is a free desktop application that can be installed right on the user’s laptop/desktop. Power BI Desktop works together with Power BI services by offering data exploration, shaping & modeling and also, aiding the user in creating a report with highly interactive visualizations. The user can save the work to a file or publish the data and reports right to the Power BI site to share with his/hercolleagues. • Q4. Describe the data sources, that Power BI can connectto? • The list of data sources for Power BI is massive, but it can be clustered into thefollowing: • Files – Data can be pulled in from Excel, Power BI Desktop files, and Comma SeparatedValues.

3. Content Packs – It is a compendium of related documents or files that are stored as a group. In Power BI there are two categories of content packs, primarily one is from service providers like Google Analytics, Marketo, or Salesforce and secondly, one is created and shared by other colleagues in thecompany. • Connections to databases and other datasets suchas Azure SQL, Database and SQL, Server Analysis Services tabular data,etc. • DescribethediversefiltersinPowerBIReports. • Power BI provides a variety of options to filter, report, data, and visualize. The following is the list of Filtertypes. • Visual Filters – These work on individual visualizations, decreasing the amount of data that the visualization can show. Also, visual filters can compartmentalize both calculus anddata. • Page Filters – These filters work at the report-page level. Distinct pages in the same report can have unique page-levelfilters. • Report Filters – These work on the complete report, sorting all the pages and visualizations incorporated in thereport. • Power BI visuals have an interactive feature, which makes filtering a report easy. Visual interactions are insightful but come with somerestrictions: • The filter used is not saved as part of the report – Whenever the user launches a report, the user can use visual filters but would not be able to store the filter in the originalreport. • The filter is always visible – Sometimes the user intends to use afilter • for the entire report, but the user does not wish any visual indication of the filter beingapplied. • Q5. What is the format available in PowerBI? • Power BI Desktop – fordesktop/laptop • Power BI service – OnlineSaaS • Power BI mobile app – for Android and iOSdevices

4. All of these may be used in conjunction. For example, the user might create a report on the desktop and then publish and share it online so that colleagues could view it on their mobiledevices. • Q6. What are content packs in PowerBI? • Content packs are prefabricated solutions for popular features as part of the Power BI experience. User with access can link to their profile from Power BI to see their data through live dashboards and interactive reports that have been fabricated for them. Microsoft has published content packs for services like Salesforce.com, Marketo, Adobe Analytics, Azure Mobile Engagement, CircuitID,etc. • The corporate content pack gives the employees, BI professionals, and system integrators the means to construct their content packs and to share purpose-built dashboards, reports, and datasets within theircompany. • Q7. Describe the building blocks of PowerBI? • Visualizations – Visualization refers to a chart, graph, or similar graphic depiction ofdata. • Datasets – A dataset is a group of data used to generate a visualization such as a column of sales figures. Datasets can be merged and cleaned from distinct sources usingbuilt-in connectors. • Reports – A report is a collection of visualizations of one ormore • pages; for example, charts, graphs, and maps can be fused to create a report. • Dashboards – A dashboard lets the user share a one-page visualization with others, who can then interact with theuser’s dashboard. • Tiles – A tile is a visualization on the user’s dashboard or in thereport. • As the creator, the user has complete access to move the tilesaround. • Q8. DescribeDAX? • Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) is a compilation of functions, operators, and constants used in formulas to calculate and return values. In other words, it helps the user create new information from the dataobtained.

5. To do the basic calculation and data analysis on data in power pivot, we use Data Analysis Expression (DAX). It is a formula language used to compute the calculated column andfield. • DAX works on columnvalues. • DAX cannot modify or insertdata. • We can create computed columns and measures with DAX but we cannot evaluate rows usingDAX. • Q9. What are the most shared DAX Functionsused? • Below mentioned are some of the most widely used DAXfunctions: • SUM, MIN, MAX, AVG, CONTROLS, DISTINCTCOUNT • IF, AND, OR,SWITCtf • ISBLANK, IS FILTERED, ISCROSSFILTERED • VALUES, ALL, FILTER,CALCULATE, • UNION, INTERSECT, EXCEPT,NATURALINNERJOIN, • NATURALLEFTEROUTERJOIN, • SUMMARIZECOLUMNS, ISEMPTY, • VAR(Variables) • GEOMEAN, MEDIAN,DATEDIFF • Q10. How is the FILTER functionused? • The FILTER function yields a table with a filter condition applied for each of its source table rows. The FILTER function is rarely used alone; it is generally used as a parameter to other functions such asCALCULATE. • FILTER is a mediator and thus can negatively impact performance over large sourcetables. • Complex categorizing rationality can be appliedsuch as referencing a measure in a filterexpression.

6. Q11. What is the common table function for groupingdata? • SUMMARIZE() • Main group by function inSSAS. • The recommended routine is to specifythe table and group by columns but not by metrics. The user can use ADD COLUMNSfunction. • SUMMARIZECOLUMNS • Create a New Group by function for SSAS and Power BI Desktop; moreefficient • Specifythegroupbycolumns,table,andexpressions. Q12. What are Variables inDAX? Below are some of thebenefits: somebenefitsofusing • By announcing and calculating a variable, the variable may be reprocessed multiple times in a DAX expression, thus avoiding additional queries of the sourcedatabase. • Variables can make DAX expressions more intuitive/logical topredict. • Variables are only measured to their query, they cannot be shared among measures, queries, or be defined at the modellevel. • Q13. How would the user create trailing X- month metrics via DAXagainst a non- standardcalendar? • The solution willinvolve: • CALCULATEfunctiontocontrol(takeover)filtercontextofmeasures. • ALL to remove existingfilters on the date dimension. • FILTERtoidentifywhichrowsofthedatedimensiontouse.

7. Alternatively, CONTAINS may be used: CALCULATE(FILTER(ALL(‘DATE’),…….)) Q14.Whatarethe concepts ofDAX? three fundamental • Syntax – Syntax includes functions such as SUM (used when the user wants to add figures). If the syntax isn’t correct, the user will get an errormessage. • Functions – These formulas are used as arguments in a particular order to perform a calculation, akin to the functions in Excel. The different types of functions are time intelligence, logical, parent/child, mathematical, date/time, statistical,etc. • Context– There are basically 2 categories:– • . • row contextand • filtercontext • Every Time a formula has a function that applies filters to identify a single row in a table, row context comes into play. When multiple filters are employed in a calculation that determines a result or value, the filter context comes intoplay. • Q15. What are some of the most common sources for data in the Get Datamenu? • Power BI datasets, MS Excel, SQL server, and analysisservices. • Q16. What is grouping, and how would the user useit?

8. Power BI Desktop groups the data in the user’s visuals into pieces. The user can however define the user’s groups and bins. For this use Ctrl and click to select multiple elements in the visual. Right-click on one of those elements and from the menu that appears, opt the Group. In the Groups window, the user can create new groups or modify existingones. • Q17. Describe responsiveslicers. • On a report page, the user can resize a responsive slicer to different sizes and shapes, and the data contained in it will be rearranged to match. If a graphic becomes small to be useful, an icon representing the visual takes its place-making judicious use of space on the reportpage. • Q18. What are the main components of the Power BI toolkit, and what do theydo? • Power Query: lets the user discover, access, and consolidate info from differentsources • Power Pivot: a modelingtool • PowerView:aperformancetoolforcreatingcharts,tables,etc • Power Map: letsthe user create geospatial representations of the user’sdata • Power Q&A: Allows the operator to use natural language to raise queries, i.e. “What were the total sales lastweek?” • Q19. What is Power Pivot DataModel? • It is a specifically designed model that is made up of data types, tables, columns, and table relations. These data models are normally assembled for keeping data for a private businessentity. Q20.Whatisthevelocityin-memory analytics engine used in PowerPivot?

9. The programming behindthe power pivot is the xVelocity in-memory analytics engine. It is capable of handling a significant volume of data with ease as it stores the data in the columnar database and in-memory analytics which results in faster processing of data as it loads the entire data to the RAM. • Q21. What are some of the differences in data modeling between Power BI Desktop and Power Pivot forExcel? • Here are some of thedifferences: • Power BI Desktop supports two-way dual relationships, security, calculated tables, and Direct Queryoptions. • Power Pivot for Excel hasone direction relationship, calculated columns only, and supports import modeonly. • Q22. Can we have more than one active relationship between two tables in the data model of a powerpivot? • More than one active relationship between two tables is NOT possible. tfowever, the user can instill more than one relationship between two tables buttherewillbeonlyoneactiverelationshipandmanyinactiverelationships. • Q23. What is PowerQuery? • Power Query is an extract, transform & load tool used to shape data using intuitive interfaces without the need of using coding. It helps the userto: • Import Data from multiple sources i.e. files, databases, big data, social media data,etc. • Join and attach data from multiple datasources. • Model data as per the requirement by deleting and addingdata.

10. Q24.Whatarethedatadestinationsfor PowerQueries? • There are majorly two destinations for output we can derive from power query: • Load to a table in aworksheet. • Load to the Excel DataModel. • Q25. What is query folding in PowerQuery? • Query folding is the procedure where the steps definedin the Power Query/Query Editor are translated into SQL and executed by the source database rather than the operators’ device. It is imperative for administering performance and scalability making the best use of the limited resources on the client’smachine. • Q26.WhatissomecommonPower Query/EditorTransforms? • Changing DataTypes • FilteringRows • Choosing/RemovingColumns • Grouping • Splitting a column into multiplecolumns • Adding new Columnsetc. Q27.IsthecombineduseofPower Query/Query Editor and SQLpossible? Certainly, an SQL announcement can be defined as the source of a Power Query/M function for additional processing/logic. This is a good practice to ensure that an efficient database query is passed to the source and thatany

11. unnecessary processing and complexity are avoided by the client machine and Mfunction. • Q28. What are query parameters and Power BItemplates? • Query parameters may be used to offer the operators of a regional Power BI Desktop report a notification, to specify the values that they might be interestedin. • The parameter selectionmay then be used by the query and calculations. • PBIX files can be transferred as Templates (PBITfiles). • Templates encompass everything in the PBIX except the dataitself. • Parameters and templates can make it possible to share/email tinier template files and restrict the amount of data that is loaded onto the localPBIXfiles,maximizingprocessingtime,andexperience. • Q29. Which language is used in PowerQuery? • An innovative programming language is used to power a query called M- Code. It is simple to use and related to other languages. M-code is a case- sensitivelanguage. • Q30. What is the need for a Power Query when Power Pivot can be used to import data from the most frequently usedsources? • Power Query is an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tool that operates as an Excel add-in. It permits operators to extract data from numerous sources, manipulate the said data into a form that suits their needs, and load it onto Excel. It is the most recommended routine to use Power Query over Power Pivot as it not only allows the user to load the data but also influences it as per the user’s needs whileuploading.

12. Q31. Explain the term “Mlanguage”. • It is the programming language used in Power BI. It’s a functional, case- sensitive language that is a lot similar to other programming languages which are easy toimplicate. • Q32. Describe the difference between visual- level filters, page-level filters, and report- levelfilters? • Visual filters filter data within a singlevisualization. • Page filters work on the complete page in a report, and different pages may have separatefilters. • Report filters, and categorize all the visualizations and pages inthe • report. • Q33. How does the Schedule Refresh feature work? • The user can configure an automatic refresh of data daily or weekly and at different times. The user can schedule only one refresh maximum daily unless the user has Power BI Pro. In the Schedule Refresh section, use the pulldown menu selections to choose the frequency, time zone, and time ofday. • Q34. What data is required to generate a map in PowerMap? • Power Map can display only geographical visualizations. Thus, data about the location is required e.g. city, state, country or latitude, longitude,etc. • Q35. What is the PowerMap?

13. Power Map is an Excel add-in that provides the user with a powerful set of tools to help the user visualize and gain insight into large sets of data that have a geo-coded component. It can help the operator generate 3D visualizations by scheming up to a million data points in the form of column, heat, and bubble maps on top of a BING map. In certain scenarios, if the data is time-stamped, it can also produce interactive views that display how the data changes overtime. • Q36. What is the principal requirement for a table to be used in PowerMap? • For data to be consumed in the power map there should be location datalike: • Latitude &Longitude • Street, City, Country/Region, zip code, etc which can be geolocated by BING • The initial requirement for the table is that it should consist of distinctive rows. It must also include location data, which can be in the form of a Latitude & Longitude, although this is not a requirement. The operator can use Street, City, Country/Region, Zip Code/Postal Code, and State/Province which can be geolocated byBing. • Q37. What are the data sources for Power Map? • Data sources may differ from being present in Excel format to multiple external sources. To prepare the user data, make sure all of the data is in an Excel table format, where each row represents a unique record. Using expressive labels also makes the value and category fields available to the user when the user designs the user tour in the Power Map Tour Editorpane. • To be able to use a table structure that precisely symbolizes time and geography inside Power Map, include all of the data in the table rows and use descriptive text labels in the column headings, likethis:

14. In case the user wishes to load the user data from an externalsource: • In Excel, click Data > the connection the user wants in the Get External Datagroup. • Adhere to the steps in the wizard that popsup. • In the last step of the popup box make sure to add this data to the Data Model to have itchecked. • Q38. What is PowerView? • Power View is a data visualization technology that allows the operator to create cooperative charts, graphs, maps, and other infographics that bring the user’s data to life. Power View is widely accessible in Excel, SharePoint, SQL Server, and PowerBI. • The following provides comprehensive detail about the different visualizations available in PowerView: • Charts • Linecharts • Piecharts • Maps • Tiles • Cards • Images • Tables • PowerView • MultiplesVisualizations • Bubble and scattercharts • Key performance indicators(KPIs) • Q39. What is a Power BIDesigner? • It is a stand-alone application where we can make Power BI reports and then uploadthem to Powerbi.com, it does not require Excel. It is an amalgamationofPowerView,PowerPivot,andPowerQuery.

15. Q40. How can we refresh our Power BI reports once uploaded to the cloud (Share point orPowebi.com)? Yes,the user can refresh his/her reports through Data Management gateway(forSharePoint)andPowerBIPersonalgateway(forPowerbi.com) Q41. What are the different types of refreshing data for our publishedreports? TherearefourmaintypesofoptionsforarefreshinPowerBI. Package Refresh – This feature harmonizes the user’s Power BI Desktop or Excel file between the Power BI service and OneDrive or SharePoint Online. tfowever, this does not extract data from the original data source. The dataset in Power BI will only be revisedwith the data in OneDrive or SharePointOnline. Model/data Refresh – It refers to refreshing the dataset in the Power BI service with data from the original data source. This is done by either using scheduled refresh/refresh now. It requires access to on-premises datasources. Tile Refresh – Tile refresh updates the cache for tile visuals on the dashboard once data alters. This happens every fifteen minutes. The user may also instigate a tile refresh by selecting the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner of a dashboard and selecting Refresh dashboardtiles. Visual Container Refresh – Refreshing the visual container revises the cached report graphics within a report once the data ismodified. Q42. Is Power BI availableon-premises? Power BI is NOT accessible as a confidential core cloud service. tfowever, with Power BI and Power BI Desktop, the user can securely connect to the user’s on-premises data sources. With the On-premises Data Gateway, theuser can

16. connect live to the other users’ on-premises SQL Server Analysis Services and other data sources. The user can also schedule refresh with a centralized gateway. If a gateway is not available, the user can refresh data from on- premises data sources using the Power BI Gateway –Personal. • Q43.Whataredatamanagementgateway and Power BI personalgateway? • The gateway acts as a bridge between on-premises data sources and Azure cloudservices. • PersonalGateway: • Import Only, Power BI Service Only, No centralmonitoring/managing. • Can only be used by one person (personal); can’t allow others to use thisgateway. • On-PremisesGateway: • Import and Direct Querysupported. • Multiple users of gateway for fabricatingcontent. • Central monitoring andcontrol. • Q44. What is Power BIQ&A? • Power BI Q&A is a natural language tool that helps in querying the user data and getting the results the user needs from it. The user attains this by typing into a dialog box onthe Dashboard, in which the engine instantaneouslygenerates an answer similar to in Power View. Q&A interprets the user questions and shows the user a restated query of what it is looking for from the user data. Q&A was developed by Server and Tools, Microsoft Research, and the Bing teams to give the user a complete feeling of truly exploring the userdata. • Q45. What is how Excel can be experienced with PowerBI?

17. BelowaresomeofthewaysthroughwhichwecaninfluencePowerBI: • The Power BI Publisher forExcel: • May be used to attach Excel items (charts, ranges, pivot tables) to Power BIService. • May be used to link to datasets and reports stored in Power BIService. • Excel workbooks can be uploaded to Power BI and viewed in a browser like ExcelServices. • Q46. What is a calculated column in Power BI and why would the user usethem? • Calculated Columns are DAX expressions that are calculated during the model’s processing/refresh process for each row of the given column and can be used like any other column in themodel. • Calculated columns are not compressed and thus requireadditional memory • andresult in decreased query performance. They can also decrease processing/refresh performance if applied to large amounts of data and can make a model more difficult to maintain/support given that the computed column is not present at thesource. • Q47.Howisdatasecurityimplementedin PowerBI? • Power BI can employ Row Level Security roles tomodels. • A DAX expression is applied on a table to filter its rows at querytime. • Dynamic security entails the use of USERNAME functions in security roledefinitions. • A table is created in the model that connects users to specificfeatures • androles. • Q48. What are many-to-many relationships and how can they be addressed in PowerBI?

18. Many to Many relationships involves building a link between tables reflecting the combinations of two dimensions (e.g., doctors andpatients). • Two-way dual relationships can be used inPBIX. • CROSS FILTER function can be used in Power Pivot likeExcel. • DAX can be used per metric to check and optionally revise the filter framework. • Q49. Describe Power BI Publisher forExcel? • The user can use the Power BI publisher for Excel to attach ranges, pivot tables, and charts to PowerBI. • The user can manage the tiles by refreshing them or removing them inExcel. • The Power BI Publisher for Excel can also be used to create a link from Excel to datasets that are hosted in the Power BIService. • An Excel pivot table is generated with a link to the data inAzure. • The Publisher installs all the essential drivers on the local device to verifyconnectivity. • Q50. What are the differences between a Power BI Dataset, a Report, and a Dashboard? • Dataset: • The source is used to create reports andvisuals/tiles. • A data model is an Analysis ServicesServer • Data could be inside of the model (imported) or a Direct Query connection to asource. • Report: • An individual Power BI Desktop file comprising of one or more report pages. • It is built for profound, collaborative analysis experience for a given dataset. • Each Report is linked to at least onedataset • Each page comprising one or more visuals or tiles is madeavailable.

19. Dashboard: • a compilation of visuals from differentreports. • Built to average primary visuals and metrics from multipledatasets. • Q51.WhatarethethreeEditInteractions options of a visual tile in Power BIDesktop? • The 3 edit communication choices are Filter, tfighlight, and None. • Filter: It completely penetrates a visual based on the filter selection of anothervisual. • tfighlight: It emphasizes only the related elements on the visual and shades out the non-relateditems. • None • Some useful Links AreBelow: • To Know more about Power BI Certification visit – The power BI CertificationCourse • Must visit our official youtube channel -Analyticstraininghub • To know more about our visit - Most demanded Technical Skills Based CertificationCourses