Power BI - Level 2 Intermediate - DAX and Visualisation

Course Overview
This one-day intermediate Power BI course is designed for professionals ready to move beyond basic reporting. Participants will learn how to write and apply DAX (Data Analysis Expressions), deepen their understanding of calculated measures, and leverage Power BI's advanced visualisation features to build dynamic, interactive reports.
Through hands-on exercises, learners will gain practical experience using Time Intelligence, custom filtering, conditional formatting, and interactive navigation – all while adhering to professional data visualisation standards.
Power BI and Excel may both be Microsoft tools used for data analysis, but Power BI is fundamentally different from Excel in both purpose and functionality.
Unlike Excel, which is a spreadsheet application primarily designed for manual data entry, calculations, and static reports, Power BI is a dedicated business intelligence platform focused on dynamic, interactive, and visual data exploration. Power BI does not rely on cells, formulas, or worksheets in the way Excel does. It uses a data modelling engine, relationships between datasets, and powerful DAX formulas specifically built for analysis at scale. It’s designed to connect to multiple data sources, automate data refreshes, and create rich dashboards that update in real time.
While Excel users may find some familiar concepts, Power BI operates on an entirely different level of automation, scalability, and interactivity, and it can be learned independently without any Excel background—although Excel experience can certainly help.
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Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for:
• Analysts and business users already familiar with Power BI Desktop
• Users with experience in Power Query and Data Modelling – these will not be covered in this course
• Ideally, participants will already have completed our Introduction to Power BI course
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What You Will Learn
DAX Fundamentals
• Understand measures vs calculated columns
• Learn essential DAX syntax and structure

• Create dynamic calculations using:
• IF (logical functions)
• TEXT, DATE & TIME functions
• Time Intelligence (YTD, MTD, PREVIOUSMONTH)
• RELATED and CALCULATE
• ITERATOR functions – SUMX, AVERAGEX
• Apply best practices for readable, scalable DAX
Advanced Visualisation Techniques
• Use a broader set of visuals: Table, Matrix, KPI, Gauge, Donut, Area, Maps
• Implement Top N filters and Cards
• Design with Conditional Formatting for impact
• Use Drill Up/Down, Drillthrough, and Edit Interactions
• Build report navigation with Bookmarks and Buttons
Report Publishing & Design
• Apply corporate visualisation standards
• Use layout and design best practices
• Export reports or publish to the Power BI Service (free tier only)
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Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
• Write simple to intermediate DAX measures and calculated columns
• Understand and apply key DAX functions including CALCULATE, RELATED, and ITERATOR functions
• Use Time Intelligence functions for dynamic date-based reporting
• Design professional-level reports with enhanced interactivity
• Implement advanced features like Drillthrough, Bookmarks, and Conditional Formatting
• Apply best practices for readable, scalable reports
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Exclusions
The following topics are outside the scope of this course
• No custom visuals from AppSource
• No R/Python or AI visuals
• No Power BI Service Pro features (e.g., sharing, workspaces)
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Delivery Format
This is a classroom-based course. Each participant will have access to a fully equipped workstation with Microsoft Power BI Desktop installed. The instructor will guide the course using live demonstrations, practical exercises, and real-time feedback.
Training Environment Includes:
• Individual PCs with Microsoft Power BI Desktop
• Course materials and online notes
• Comfortable classroom setting conducive to learning
Participants are not required to bring their own laptop.________________________________________
Key Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
• Write and apply a range of DAX functions
• Create calculated columns and measures with confidence
• Design high-impact dashboards with dynamic filtering and drillthrough
• Implement professional navigation, formatting, and layout