Power BI for Data Analytics
Power Query Fundamentals
Learn how to think about data transformation using messy, realistic sales data. Identify problems, choose transformations, understand Applied Steps and predict the result.
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1. When Should You Use Power Query?
Power Query is used to connect to data and transform it before analysis. First decide whether a problem should be solved during data preparation.
You imported a sales file and immediately noticed inconsistent Region values and a blank value. What should you do first?
Power Query Fundamentals for Data Analytics
Power Query is an important part of the Power BI data-preparation workflow. It allows analysts to connect to data and transform it before using the data for reporting and analysis.
Real-world datasets frequently contain inconsistent text, missing values, unwanted spaces and values that are not stored in an appropriate format. These issues can affect analysis if they are not investigated.
Power Query records transformations as Applied Steps. Thinking carefully about the order of these steps is important because each transformation works with the result produced by earlier transformations.
In this lesson, the goal is not simply to memorize Power Query buttons. The goal is to develop the analytical habit of identifying a data problem, choosing an appropriate transformation and predicting its effect.