Advanced Power BI

Morning Session — DAX Foundations & Essential Concepts

Introduction to DAX for Calculations and Measures

• What DAX is and why it matters in Power BI and Report Server
• Understanding the difference between:  
  • Calculated columns (row‑level, stored values)
  • Measures (dynamic, filter‑context‑driven calculations)
• Conceptual explanation of row context vs. filter context using simple, relatable scenarios
• Understanding evaluation order and how Power BI decides how to calculate values

Core DAX Functions for Data Analysis

• Overview of the most frequently used DAX categories:  
  • Aggregation functions: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, MAX
  • Text functions: CONCATENATE, FORMAT, LEFT/RIGHT/MID
  • Date/time functions: TODAY, EOMONTH, WEEKDAY, etc.
  • Logical functions: IF, AND, OR, SWITCH
• Practical scenarios:  
  • Creating KPIs using simple aggregations
  • Cleaning or shaping fields with text and date functions

Building Measures & Calculated Columns: Best Practices

• When to use a measure vs. a calculated column
• Naming standards and formatting conventions (metric names, result formatting)
• Using variables (VAR) to simplify and optimize calculations
• Avoiding common beginner mistakes:  
  • Overusing calculated columns
  • Building inefficient or duplicated logic
  • Using row context incorrectly  

Afternoon Session — Practical DAX Patterns & Hands‑On Application

Common DAX Patterns for Real‑World Scenarios

This section mirrors proven DAX templates that users can reuse across a variety of business cases.

1. Filtering & Conditional Logic

• Using CALCULATE to modify or override filter context
• Understanding how FILTER enables row‑by‑row logic in measures
• Practical business examples:  
  • Sales for a specific product category
  • Revenue excluding a specific region
  • Condition‑based KPIs using IF / SWITCH

2. Time‑Intelligence Fundamentals

• How Power BI works with date tables (importance of a proper Date dimension)
• Building baseline time measures:  
  • YTD / MTD / QTD totals
  • Prior‑year comparisons
  • Period‑over‑period variance (e.g., Compare Sales vs. Last Month)
• Visualizing trending analyses effectively with these measures

3. Aggregations & Iterator Functions

• When to use iterators:  
  • SUMX, AVERAGEX, MINX, MAXX
• Row‑level computation scenarios:  
  • Weighted averages
  • Margin calculations
  • Dynamic totals across filtered subsets

Performance & Optimization Principles

• Why measures can slow down if written inefficiently
• How variables improve clarity and performance
• Reducing repeated logic and redundant conditions
• Ensuring your Date table is properly marked and structured

Hands‑On Lab (Based on PDF’s Original Structure)

Participants practice:

• Creating multiple measures using CALCULATE, FILTER, and iterator functions
• Building time‑intelligence metrics (YTD, prior‑period, rolling totals)
• Testing DAX logic using tables, KPIs, and card visuals
• Debugging common issues in measure logic using intermediate visuals

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