Beginner learning path for Power BI Desktop

Start with the basics of Power BI Desktop. Learn how to load data (Excel/CSV), understand the interface, and build very simple visuals. Don’t worry about DAX yet — just focus on getting data in and seeing it on a report page. Ypu can also use AdvantureWorks or Contoso dataset for practice.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/samples/adventureworks-install-configure?view=sql-server-ver17&tabs=ssms

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18279

Next, spend time on data modeling. This is one of the most important skills in Power BI. Learn what a fact table and dimension table are, how to create relationships, and why star schema matters. Also learn basic concepts like cardinality and filter direction. Good models make everything else easier.

After that, move on to visuals and report design. Learn when to use tables, matrices, bar/line charts, slicers, and cards. Practice using filters, slicers, drill-down, and tooltips. Try to keep reports simple and readable — layout and clarity matter a lot.

Once you’re comfortable with modeling and visuals, start learning basic DAX. Begin with simple measures like SUM, COUNT, DISTINCTCOUNT, and then move to CALCULATE, filter context, and time intelligence (YTD, MTD). Understanding row context vs filter context is key here.

Finally, explore publishing and Power BI Service basics. Learn how to publish a report, understand datasets vs reports, basic sharing, and refresh concepts. You don’t need to master this early, but it helps complete the picture.