Classroom Training
Introduction to PowerPivot
Available as classroom training course only
£695 + VAT for most venues (£850 + VAT for London)
2 days
Excel can do so much more than simple pivot tables! This two-day course will show you how to:
- create simple, elegant data models in PowerPivot;
- use these data models to create pivot tables based on multiple tables;
- use queries to build queries to extract, transform and load data (this used to be called Power Query, but is now integrated in Excel);
- start to use the DAX language for more in-depth analysis of data;
- analyse time series data ("compare this month's sales with the same period in the previous quarter");
- create hierarchies, and display them in pivot tables;
- create and display KPIs in Excel;
- understand what Power BI Desktop is, and how it is the same in many ways as PowerPivot / Power Query;
- create visualisations in Power BI Desktop (tables, charts and matrices);
- understand how to publish Power BI Desktop reports to the cloud, and pin tiles to dashboards.
Note that you'll need to be using Excel 2016 (or 2013) Professional Plus or Office 365 ProPlus to be able to use the Power BI (Power Business Intelligence) features within Excel.
We don't have any dates scheduled for this course, but we may well consider adding them - it's always worth asking.
Alternatively, you could enquire about running the course in your office or even (if available) as a tailored online course.
Course Contents
The contents of this course are as follows:
PowerPivot data models
- Importing SQL Server tables
- Filtering rows/columns
- Data and diagram view
- Hiding from client view
- Relationships
Pivot tables using PowerPivot
- Drill-down vs Quick Explore
- Slicers and timelines
- Controlling what you see
Using Excel tables
- Creating and naming tables
- Adding to data models
Using other data sources
- Importing Access and Excel
- Pasting from the clipboard
Getting data (Power Query)
- Querying databases
- Web pages
Transforming data (Power Query)
- Splitting columns
- Merging and inserting columns
- Other transforms
Calculated columns
- Creating calculated columns
- Using the RELATED function
- BLANK and SWITCH
Measures
- The all-important query context
- Implicit calculated fields
- AutoSum fields
- Creating in Excel and PowerPivot
DAX basics
- The DAX Studio add-in
- Calculating ratios
- Aggregate X functions
The CALCULATE function
- Replacing filters
- Using ALL
- Using VALUES to edit filters
If time
More advanced DAX functions
- Using FILTER to filter tables
- Ranking
- The EARLIER function
Calendars
- Creating in Excel or SQL
- Linking to calendars
- Sorting months
- Multiple date tables
Date functions
- Period to date
- Fiscal year calculations
- Parallel periods
- Semi-additive measures
Hierarchies
- Creating hierarchies
- Pros and cons
KPIs
- Relative KPIs
- Absolute KPIs
Perspectives
- Creating perspectives
- Viewing parts of a model
Power View
- What Power View is
- Why not to use it!
Power BI Desktop overview
- Importing data
- Visualisations
- Simple drill-down
- Publishing dashboards
If time
Power BI Desktop maps
- Localising data
- Types of map
This course uses Excel 2016 Professional Plus or Office 365 ProPlus.
Why Choose Us?
- No more than 5 people per class
- Proper restaurant lunch included
- 536 references viewable online
- Free USB stick containing course files
- Genuine Wise Owl trainers only
- Unbelievably good courseware
Sample customer feedback
Our thanks to everyone who agreed to share their thoughts (note that some of these reviews may be for our online courses).
Jo Timperley (Royal Northern College of Music)
James Berehowskyj (DHU Healthcare CIC)
Anton Breen (Live Nation (Music) UK Limited)
Angus Gibson (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG))
Dan Paterson (Oldham Council)
There are lots more where these came from (or just refresh this page to change the quotes shown).
Related Courses
Other Power BI training resources
Good Day Wiseowl
Am I able to take this class while using an older version of excel? Just wanted to make sure I was up to date.
Thanks
Good day Lance!
PowerPivot is pretty much the same for Excel 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (don't think I've missed any out), but for pre-2016 versions it's an add-in that you have to install. Excel 2013 had an annoying (and as it turned out, temporary) change, calling measures "calculated fields".
We don't run this course often now, though - my impression is that it hasn't got a great future, with everyone using Power BI instead (certainly that's where Microsoft are investing their money).
Hope this helps!