Build Your First Power BI Dashboard

Step-by-step

Tick each task as you finish it, your progress saves on this device.

1. 1. Install Power BI Desktop

   Download Power BI Desktop free from the Microsoft Store or the official download page. Once installed, open it. If it asks you to sign in, you can usually click "Skip" or just close the sign-in modal.

   Done when: Power BI Desktop is open to a blank white canvas

2. 2. Get the dataset and Import

   Download the Teki sample sales dataset to your computer. In Power BI, click "Get Data" on the Home ribbon, select "Text/CSV", find the file, and click Open. A preview window will appear. Click "Load" to bring the data into the model.

   Done when: The data loads and the fields (columns) appear in the "Data" pane on the far right

3. 3. Verify Data Types in Power Query

   It is good practice to ensure numbers are numbers and text is text. Click "Transform Data" on the Home ribbon to open the Power Query Editor. Check the icons next to the column headers. `revenue` should be a decimal number (1.2) or fixed decimal number ($). If correct, click "Close & Apply".

   Done when: Data types are verified and Power Query is closed

4. 4. Create Headline Cards

   Let's add KPIs. Click the "Card" icon in the Visualizations pane. Drag the `revenue` field from the Data pane into the "Fields" well of the visual. Power BI automatically sums it. Format the visual by going to the "Format your visual" tab (paint roller icon), select "Callout value", and change the display units to "None" and add a currency prefix.

   Done when: A styled card showing exact Total Revenue is visible on the canvas

5. 5. Visualize Sales by Product

   Click a blank area of the canvas. Select the "Clustered bar chart" visual. Drag `product` to the Y-axis and `revenue` to the X-axis. You now have a visual ranking of products by revenue. Turn on Data Labels in the Format tab so exact numbers appear on the bars.

   Done when: A horizontal bar chart showing products sorted by revenue is visible

6. 6. Write a DAX Measure

   Let's calculate Average Transaction Value using DAX. Right-click the table name in the Data pane and select "New measure". In the formula bar, type: `Avg Order Value = SUM(sales[revenue]) / COUNTROWS(sales)`. Press Enter. Add a new Card visual and drag your new `Avg Order Value` measure into it.

   Done when: A new card displays the custom DAX calculation

   Show hint

7. 7. Make it interactive with a slicer

   Dashboards should be interactive. Click a blank area and add a "Slicer" visual (looks like a funnel with a table). Drag the `region` field into it. Now, click on "North" in the slicer. Watch how the Bar Chart and both Cards instantly recalculate to show only North region data!

   Done when: Selecting a region dynamically updates all other visuals on the page

8. 8. Tidy and save

   Add a text box at the top ("Insert" > "Text box") titled "Teki Executive Sales Overview". Arrange your cards at the top, the bar chart below, and the slicer on the left. Once satisfied, click File > Save and save your `.pbix` file.

   Done when: You have a clean, professional, fully interactive dashboard saved locally

Reflect

If you can answer these in your own words, the lab stuck.

• Why is it better to use a DAX measure for calculations rather than adding a static column in Power Query?
• How does cross-filtering enhance the user experience of a dashboard?
• What steps would you take if a date column was imported as text?