Forum Discussion
Dax or M Language
You emphasized Data Analysis twice in your post so I'll say DAX first!
DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions after all :smileyhappy:
That said inevitably you WILL need some knowledge of M
However the User Interface in the Query Editor is extremely helpful so you can delay having to learn M indefinitely :smileywink:
Don't let ImkeF and MarcelBeug see this post :smileyvery-happy:
Check out this article fresh from the press: http://radacad.com/m-or-dax-that-is-the-question
Agree with Sean : Make use of the wonderful user interface in the query editor which let's you glide into the language with minimal efford, if you start to read the code that has been created with your interactions:
1) Make sure that the Formula Bar is visible (2)
3) Click on each stepname and see what code has been generated (2)
It's a bit like the Macro-recorder in Excel. It's a painless excercise at the beginning and you will develop a feeling for the syntax of the language and in no time you might start to twitch the code a bit and explore coding :-)
If i may add something: i think PowerBI has done a great job at hiding the intricacies of M for the beginner, but has still a lot to improve to do the same for DaX with mux more power in the UI and better Table and Matrix Visuals, plus imrpoved exports.
This is especially important since many of these new users will come with their user experience and frankly, sometimes, using Dax is like learning to walk , while you felt you were a champion runner in Excel...