Fueling Insights: The Importance of Sample Data for Power BI

Data is the currency of insight, and Power BI is the alchemist’s tool of choice. But before you can turn your data into gold, you need data to begin with.

That’s where sample data for Power BI comes in.

Sample data is the lifeblood of effective Power BI analysis. It’s the fuel that powers your dashboards and reports, allowing you to explore, visualize, and glean insights. But where do you get this sample data, and how do you import it into Power BI?

The internet has a feast of sample data to sink your teeth into.

There’s an array of options, from sales and returns to artificial intelligence. These samples are also available in various formats, including content packs and downloadable Excel workbooks.

Don’t know where to start? No problem. Microsoft has made it easy to access and connect to the sample data. You’ll explore the full range of Power BI’s features with just a few clicks.

Power BI has never been more fun.

Table of Contents:

1. What is Sample Data in Power BI?
2. How to Get Sample Data for Power BI?
3. Best Practice for Sample Data in Power BI
4. Evaluate Sample Data in Power BI
5. Wrap Up

What is Sample Data in Power BI?

Power BI sample data is a subset used for practice and testing within the Power BI analytics platform. It typically consists of mock or simplified data that resembles real-world information. Discover the significance of Sample Data for Power BI, an essential subset facilitating a deeper understanding of Power BI’s features, aiding in report building, and exploring advanced visualization techniques. This resource is pivotal for the learning and development of Power BI enthusiasts and professionals, ensuring proficiency in analytics skills

How to Get Sample Data for Power BI?

There are several sources and methods to obtain Power BI sample datasets:

• Microsoft Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop includes a built-in sample data generator. You can create tables, input data manually, and customize it to your needs for practicing and testing. Click the “Get Data” button and select “Samples” to access the data samples.

• Power BI Service

Power BI Service offers sample data packs and templates to import directly into your workspace. These packs cover various industries and scenarios, making starting easy. Click the “Get Data” or “Connect to Data” buttons to access them.

• Microsoft Power BI Community

The Power BI Community is a valuable resource. You can find templates and sample datasets shared by the community members. These datasets often cater to specific business cases and can be downloaded for free.

Visit the Power BI Community website (https://community.powerbi.com). Then, check the “Data Stories Gallery” or the “Themes, templates, and apps” sections for downloadable sample datasets.

• Public Data Sources

Many organizations and government websites provide access to public datasets on various topics, such as demographics and economics. You can download these datasets used in Power BI.

• Third-Party Sources

Some third-party platforms and data marketplaces offer sample datasets for free or purchase. These datasets cover diverse industries and can be a rich source for Power BI.

Best Practice for Sample Data in Power BI

Embrace the wizardry of Power BI sample data with enchanting best practices. Discover how to wield Sample Data for Power BI wisely to unlock its magical potential and optimize your analytics experience:

1. Understand the purpose: Before you dive headfirst into data lakes, figure out why you’re there. Are you hunting for insights, calculating the No. of Days Between Two Dates, or just sharpening your Power BI skills? Knowing your quest will guide your sample data choices.
2. Use official sources: No pirate wants fake treasure maps; your official treasure trove lies in Sample Data for Power BI. Utilize sample datasets from Microsoft and other reliable sources to ensure data accuracy and reliability in your analytics adventures.
3. Document the Schema: Be the cartographer of your data world. Sketch out the relationships and structure of your data. This schema documentation is crucial for designing data models and creating visualizations.
4. Practice data modeling: Apply data modeling principles, such as creating relationships, hierarchies, and calculated columns, using Sample Data for Power BI. This approach mimics real-world scenarios, preparing you for more complex data challenges in your analytics journey.
5. Data cleansing and transformation: Every adventurer needs a shower and makeover. Cleanse and transform your data to reflect the real world, warts and all. This teaches you how to handle data inconsistencies and prepares you for real-world challenges.
6. Create meaningful visualizations: Your data deserves the red carpet treatment. Craft stunning visuals that tell the story, not just numbers.
7. Explore diverse scenarios: Don’t be a one-trick pony. Use various datasets to tackle different business scenarios. From sales to HR, you’re the swashbuckler of data!
8. Learn DAX: Invest time in learning DAX, as it’s a powerful language for creating custom calculations and measures. Apply DAX functions to enhance your reports’ functionality.
9. Performance optimization: Speed matters! Optimize your data models and reports like a finely tuned ship. Learn techniques like data visualization, using appropriate visuals, and managing relationships efficiently.
10. Documentation: Document your Sample Data for Power BI, including the income statement report example, models, and report design choices. This documentation serves as a valuable resource for knowledge sharing and troubleshooting in your analytics endeavors.

Evaluate Sample Data for Power BI

We shall break down the process into five stages.

Stage 1: Logging in to Power BI

• Log in to Power BI.
• Enter your email. Click the “Submit” button.

• You are redirected to your Microsoft account.
• Enter your password and click “Sign in”.

• Choose whether to stay signed in.

Stage 2: Creating a Data Set and Selecting the Data Set to Use in Your Sankey Chart

• Go to the left-side menu and click the “Create” button.
• Select “Paste or manually enter data“.

• We’ll use the following cash flow data for this example.

Total Cost	Company Type	Company Name	Expertise Categories	Expertise	Cost
Total Cost	Subcontractor	Skyline Contractors	Mechanical Installation	Plumbing & Heating	15456
Total Cost	Subcontractor	Skyline Contractors	Mechanical Installation	Mechanical Work	10159
Total Cost	Subcontractor	Onyx General Contractors	Mechanical Installation	Plumbing & Heating	18045
Total Cost	Subcontractor	Onyx General Contractors	Mechanical Installation	Mechanical Work	12695
Total Cost	Subcontractor	Living Well Remodeling	Mechanical Installation	Plumbing & Heating	14589
Total Cost	Subcontractor	Living Well Remodeling	Mechanical Installation	Welding	11456
Total Cost	Supplier	Power-up Builders	Raw Material	Cement	20561
Total Cost	Supplier	Power-up Builders	Raw Material	Steel	32456
Total Cost	Supplier	Five-star Construction	Raw Material	Bricks	10253
Total Cost	Supplier	Five-star Construction	Raw Material	Timber	9000

• Paste the above data table in the Power Query Window.
• Select the “Create a dataset only” option.

• On the left-side menu, click “Data Hub“.
• Power BI populates the data set list. (If you have not created a data set, refer to the Error! Reference source not found section).

• Choose a data set for the Sankey chart.
• PBI populates the screen as shown below:

• A Report Canvas screen appears as below:

Stage 3: Adding the Power BI Sankey Diagram Extension by ChartExpo

• Creating the Sankey Diagram requires us to use an add-in or Power BI visual from AppSource.
• Navigate to the right side of the Power BI dashboard.
• Open the Power BI Visualizations panel.
• Click the ellipsis symbol (…) as highlighted in the diagram below. This will import the Power BI Sankey Diagram extension by ChartExpo.

• The following menu opens:
• Select the “Get more visuals” option.

• The following window opens.
• Enter “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo” in the highlighted search box.
• You should see the “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo”, as shown in the image below.

• Click the highlighted “Add” button.

• Power BI will add the “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo” icon in the visualization panel.

Stage 4: Drawing a Sankey Diagram with ChartExpo’s Power BI extension

• Select the “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo” icon in the visualization panel.
• The following window opens in the report section of your dashboard:

• You can resize the visual as needed.
• Navigate to the right side of your Power BI dashboard.
• You should see “Fields” next to “Visualizations“.

• You’ll select the fields to use in your Sankey chart here.
• The ChartExpo visual needs to be selected, though. Select the field in the following sequence:
• • Total Cost
  • Company Type
  • Company Name
  • Expertise Categories
  • Expertise
  • Cost

• You’ll be asked for a ChartExpo license key or email address.

Stage 5: Activate your ChartExpo Trial or Apply a Subscription Key

• Select the ChartExpo visual.
• You should see three icons below “Build Visual” in the Visualizations panel.

• Select the middle icon, “Format visual“. The visual properties will be populated as shown below.

• To begin using ChartExpo as a new user;
  • Enter your email address in the textbox under the “Trial Mode” section. ChartExpo will send the License key to this email upon subscribing to the add-in.
  • Ensure you provide an accurate and up-to-date email address.
  • Toggle “Enable Trial” to activate your 7-day trial.

• You should receive a welcome email from ChartExpo.
• If you do not find the email in your inbox, kindly check your spam folder.
• The Sankey Diagram you create under the 7-day trial contains the ChartExpo watermark.

• If you have obtained a license key:
  • Enter your license key in the “ChartExpo License Key” textbox in the “License Settings” section (see below).
  • Slide the toggle switch next to “Enable License” to “On“.

• Your Sankey Diagram will then appear without a watermark.

• Let’s add the Prefix (e.g., $ sign) to the chart’s numeric values.
• Expand the “Stats” properties. Add the Prefix value (e.g., $ sign).

• Automatically all changes will be saved.

Insights

• Cost Distribution by Company Type

Subcontractors are the main beneficiaries of the “Total Cost.” To better understand the distribution, calculate the precise allocation of the total cost to subcontractors and suppliers.

• Most Costly Expertise Categories

‘Mechanical Installation’ has the highest expertise expenses, with notable costs attributed to the ‘Plumbing & Heating’ and ‘Mechanical Work’ subcategories.

• Company Performance

The performance of subcontractors and suppliers is evaluated based on the total cost they receive. The sub-contractors, Skyline Contractors, Onyx General Contractors, and Living Well Remodeling charged $25.6K, $30.7K, and $26.0K, respectively. The suppliers, Power-up Builder and Five-star Construction charged $53.0K and $19.3K, respectively.

FAQs

What is Sample Data for Power BI?

Sample Data for Power BI is a collection of pre-made datasets available within the Power BI platform. These datasets resemble real-world scenarios but use simplified data, making them perfect for learning, practicing, and testing your Power BI skills without needing complex data configurations.

What are the benefits of using Sample Data for Power BI?

• Learn the ropes: Sample data provides a safe environment to get familiar with Power BI features like building reports, crafting visualizations, and applying data transformations, without the pressure of real-world data complexity.
• Experiment freely: Dive into different chart types, analysis models, and functionalities without worrying about data limitations or potential errors in real-world projects.
• Boost your confidence: Build essential skills and gain confidence in using Power BI before tackling real-world data analysis, making you a more effective data analyst.
• Spark creativity: Explore diverse datasets and get inspired by different data scenarios, fueling your imagination and helping you create impactful visualizations for your reports.

Where can I find Sample Data for Power BI?

Sample data is readily available within Power BI Desktop itself. You can access it by:

• Going to the “Get Data” section within Power BI Desktop.
• Selecting “Samples” from the available data sources.
• Choosing the specific sample data set you’d like to work with.

Wrap Up

Harnessing sample data for Power BI is akin to sharpening a sword before battle, essential for success. It empowers you to experiment, learn, and innovate within this dynamic data ecosystem. Understanding its purpose and using official sources ensures you’re on the right track.

We’ve unraveled the mystery of generating and importing Sample Data for Power BI, offering insights into diverse methods and best practices. Documenting the data schema and practicing data modeling prepares you for real-world scenarios where data can be messy.

Cleaning and transforming data, creating meaningful visualizations, and exploring diverse business scenarios refine your skills. Learning DAX adds a potent tool to your data analysis arsenal. Don’t forget the importance of performance optimization and meticulous documentation to navigate your data journey successfully.

To supercharge your Power BI journey, consider leveraging the innovative ChartExpo. With ChartExpo, you can access an extensive library of pre-built sample datasets tailored for Power BI. This integration lets you focus on what truly matters – analyzing and visualizing data to uncover meaningful insights.