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DQDigital Qasas Guides/Power BI Basics
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  • What is Power BI?
  • Installing Power BI Desktop
  • Loading and shaping data
  • Your first measure (DAX)
Core concepts

Loading and shaping data

Last updated 6 June 2026

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Connect to a source

Click Get data and pick a source — Excel, CSV, a database, or a web page. Power BI imports a copy and remembers the connection so you can refresh later.

Power Query: clean before you model

After connecting, the Power Query Editor opens. This is where you shape data before it reaches your report — every step you apply is recorded and re-run on each refresh.

Common transforms

  • Remove empty or unneeded columns.
  • Set correct data types (dates as dates, numbers as numbers).
  • Split or merge columns.
  • Filter out rows you do not need.

Good habits here save hours later: a clean, well-typed table makes every measure and visual simpler.

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Power BI: From Basics to Intermediate

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On this page
  • Connect to a source
  • Power Query: clean before you model
  • Common transforms