Build a first Power BI report from two small tables

A first report is easier to understand when the dataset is small enough to verify by hand. Use a fictional Orders table containing OrderID, ProductKey, Region, Units, and UnitPrice, plus a Products table with one unique row per ProductKey and a Category field.

In Power BI Desktop, import the CSVs through Get data and inspect them in Power Query. Keep identifiers as text and quantities and prices numeric. Define what one row means before counting it. One row per order is different from one row per order line.

Create an active one-to-many relationship from Products[ProductKey] to Orders[ProductKey], with the appropriate single-direction filter path for this simple model. Check that the product keys are unique on the one side. An unmatched order key should remain visible as a data issue, not be silently dropped.

Define Sales = SUMX(Orders, Orders[Units] * Orders[UnitPrice]). This multiplies within each order and adds the results. A card can show total Sales, a bar chart can show Sales by Products[Category], and a Region slicer can narrow the records. Test the unfiltered total and each selected region against independent expected values.

Save the local .pbix and include source-path instructions for another learner. Desktop authoring and online service sharing have different requirements. A slicer is not security, and a local report is not proof of service publication. The READY beginner course walks through the complete local project and then points to the existing PL-300 preparation for broader study.

Continue with the full course

Build a Power BI report from supplied data. Learn Power Query, relationships, DAX measures, visuals, refresh checks, and responsible AI-assisted review.

This is original, independent READY training. READY is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. Course completion does not confer a provider credential.