Setting up Power BI

Practice tasks

No practice files are necessary to complete the practice tasks in this chapter.

Install and set up Power BI Desktop

Before you can start using Power BI, you’ll need to install the application on your computer. Follow these steps to choose the right version and complete the setup process:

1. Choose and complete an installation method. Visit the Power BI website and decide whether to install the Microsoft Store version or download the executable file (.exe). Follow the steps outlined in this chapter to complete the installation on your device.

2. Check your version. After installing Power BI Desktop, select Help > About and note the version number currently installed.

Explore Power BI Desktop interface

After Power BI Desktop is installed, it’s helpful to become familiar with its interface. The following steps will guide you through the key areas of the workspace so you can navigate it with confidence:

1. Launch Power BI Desktop. Open the Start menu and then select Power BI Desktop. Take a moment to examine the welcome screen and available data source options.

2. Familiarize yourself with the interface. Open Power BI Desktop and take a few minutes to explore the layout. Hover over different areas of the screen and identify the main elements of the interface, including the ribbon, the report canvas, and the Fields, Visualizations, and Filters panes on the right side.

3. On the left sidebar, locate the buttons that switch between Report, Data, Model, and DAX Query views.

Configure Power BI Desktop settings

To get the most out of Power BI Desktop, you may want to adjust certain settings. The following steps will help you personalize your experience and enable useful features:

1. Access the Options menu. Select File > Options and settings > Options.

2. Enable preview features (optional). Under Preview features, turn on any feature you’d like to explore. Remember to restart Power BI Desktop to apply the changes.

3. Review your regional settings. Under Current File > Regional Settings, select the appropriate locale for your reports.

4. Check autosave options. Under Current File > Save, ensure autosave is enabled and adjust the autosave frequency if needed.