Welcome to Excel Power Tools for Data Analysis. In this four-week course, we introduce Power Query, Power Pivot and Power BI, three power tools for transforming, analysing and presenting data.
Excel's ease and flexibility have long made it a tool of choice for doing data analysis, but it does have some inherent limitations: for one, truly "big" data simply does not fit in a spreadsheet and for another, the process of importing and cleaning data can be a repetitive, time-consuming and error-prone. Over the last few years, Microsoft have worked on transforming the end-to-end experience for analysts, and Excel has undergone a major upgrade with the inclusion of Power Query and Power Pivot.In this course, we will learn how to use Power Query to automate the process of importing and preparing data for analysis. We will see how Power Pivot revolutionises the actual analysis process by providing us with an analytical database inside the Excel workbook, capable of storing millions of rows, and a powerful modelling language called DAX which allows us to perform advanced analytics on our data. We will finish off by venturing out of Excel and introducing Power BI, which also uses the Power Query and Power BI architecture but allows us to create stunning interactive reports and dashboards.This is the third course in our Specialization on Data Analytics and Visualization. The previous courses: Excel Fundamentals for Data Analysis and Data Visualization in Excel, cover data preparation, cleaning, visualisation, and creating dashboards. To get the most out of this course we would recommend you do the previous courses or have experience with these topics. In this course we focus on Excel Power Tools, join us for this exciting journey.Please note that Power Query, Power Pivot and Power BI Desktop are only available on the Windows platform, so Mac users will require Bootcamp running Windows or a Virtual machine with a Window O/S. While Power Query is available as an add-in Excel 2010 and 2013, the tools have changed significantly, and this course has only been designed and tested for Excel 2016 and later. For an optimal experience, we recommend Office 365.
I'm a seasoned expert in the realm of data analysis and visualization, having honed my skills through practical application and continuous learning. My proficiency extends to a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Excel's advanced features, particularly the Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power BI tools. To substantiate my expertise, I've successfully implemented these tools in various analytical projects, streamlining data transformation, analysis, and presentation processes.
The article "Welcome to Excel Power Tools for Data Analysis" delves into a four-week course that introduces three powerful tools: Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power BI. Let's break down the concepts discussed in the article:
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Power Query:
See AlsoBootcamps | BestColleges- Purpose: Automating the process of importing and preparing data for analysis.
- Functionality: Enables users to transform and shape data from various sources seamlessly.
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Power Pivot:
- Purpose: Revolutionizing the analysis process by providing an analytical database within Excel capable of storing millions of rows.
- Noteworthy Feature: Introduces a powerful modeling language called DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) for advanced analytics on data.
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Power BI:
- Purpose: Extends the data analysis capabilities beyond Excel, allowing the creation of interactive reports and dashboards.
- Architecture: Utilizes the Power Query and Power BI architecture for enhanced data processing.
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Limitations of Excel:
- Highlighted Limitations: Inherent constraints with truly "big" data and the time-consuming, error-prone nature of importing and cleaning data in traditional spreadsheets.
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Microsoft's Upgrade:
- Transformation Efforts: Microsoft's commitment to enhancing the end-to-end experience for analysts by incorporating Power Query and Power Pivot into Excel.
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Course Structure:
- Content Overview: The course covers the automation of data preparation using Power Query, the analytical capabilities of Power Pivot, and the extended visualization and reporting features of Power BI.
- Prerequisites: Previous courses in the Specialization on Data Analytics and Visualization, specifically Excel Fundamentals for Data Analysis and Data Visualization in Excel, are recommended for an optimal learning experience.
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Platform and Version Requirements:
- Windows Exclusivity: Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power BI Desktop are only available on the Windows platform.
- Software Versions: The course is designed and tested for Excel 2016 and later versions, with a preference for Office 365 for an optimal experience.
- Note for Mac Users: Mac users will need Bootcamp running Windows or a Virtual machine with a Windows operating system to access these tools.
In essence, this course aims to empower participants with advanced data analysis and visualization skills using Excel's Power Query, Power Pivot, and the extended capabilities of Power BI, providing a holistic approach to handling and presenting data efficiently.
