EXERCISE TOPIC▼
POWER BI EXERCISES▼
POWERPIVOT EXERCISES▼
- PowerPivot data models (7)
- Pivot tables using PowerPivot (2)
- Using Excel tables (3)
- Using other data sources (1)
- Transforming data (Power Query) (7)
- Calculated columns (7)
- Measures (2)
- The CALCULATE function (15)
- More advanced DAX functions (5)
- Calendars (1)
- Date functions (10)
- Hierarchies (2)
- KPIs (5)
- Power View (4)
- Power BI Desktop overview (3)
- Power BI Desktop maps (1)
PowerPivot | Date functions exercise | Compare this quarter's figures with last quarter's
This exercise is provided to allow potential course delegates to choose the correct Wise Owl Microsoft training course, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any format without the prior written consent of Wise Owl.
You can learn how to do this exercise on the relevant Wise Owl classroom training course (sadly for the moment only in the UK).
Software ==> | PowerPivot (75 exercises) |
Version ==> | Excel 2016 and later |
Topic ==> | Date functions (10 exercises) |
Level ==> | Harder than average |
- Go into SQL Server Management Studio;
- Open the SQL file you've just unzipped (you can press CTRL + O to do this); then
- Execute this script.
This will generate the database that you'll need to use in order to do this exercise (note that the database and script are only to be used for exercises published on this website, and may not be reused or distributed in any form without the prior written permission of Wise Owl).
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Create a new workbook, and import into a PowerPivot data model the following two tables:

You'll also need to create the relationship shown above.
Use the PARALLELPERIOD function to show these figures:
Measure | What it should show |
---|---|
This quarter | Total quantity sold for this quarter (add 0 quarters!) |
Last quarter | Total quantity sold for the previous quarter |
Quarterly ratio | The first divided by the second |
You should end up with something like this:

If you show figures by month, as here, the quarterly measures will repeat.
You'll need to use the IFERROR function to show blank values for the first quarters, to avoid divide-by-zero errors.
Save this workbook as Quarter master chores, and close it down.