How to create a standard report/table then add multiple tables

[abeinke2018]

Hi, I am new to databases and on a basic level I understand how to simply put some data into BI and create a heap of reports and graphs etc

I am also aware and can use some of the functions within this platform (I am really good with excel and formulas but dont grasp databases / joining & queries etc)

What I am wanting to do is to create a templatele/report with various claculations then simply import data each day or week as required (Same as I currently do in excel)

1) How do i create this template report so that data will automatically fill into it

2) What do I need to do to join the tables together so that the report pulls all this data into the one tab

If someone could please point me in the right direction, i would really apreciate it

Thankyou

Andrew

[Thejeswar · Accepted solution]

Hi @abeinke2018,

As far as I know, there are 2 ways using which you can make a report work like a template

Answer for your 1st Question:

1. The First method is, by creating a standard .PBIT File, where you will have the data as a parmeter (i.e. As an input value). In this case, you will create the report for a date and then declare the date as a parameter. Then you save the file as a power bi template file (.pbit). But the limitation here is once the report is published to PBI Service, it will work as a normal .pbix file. i.e. You cannot pass date from PBI service. Suppose next day you want to refresh the new data, you should refresh it in desktop for the new date by passing values to the date parameter and publish to PBI Service.

2. The Second method is by having a normal .pbix file. But here the design should be to always select the maximum date if data for multiple dates are available. In case if the report will not have multiple dates data, then to make the report reflect the new data, just truncate the tables used in the report and load it with new data. Then refresh your Power BI Dataset in PBI Service. This way your report will look the same and only the data will change after every load and refresh with out any manual intervention.

Answer for your 2nd Question:

Will try to explain in brief...

To join 2 tables, you will require a common column between them. For example, you have 2 tables Product Type and Product. 

The Columns in Product Type table are ProductTypeID, ProductTypeName.

The Columns in Product Table are ProductID, ProductName, ProductTypeID

Here the above 2 tables will be joined based on ProductTypeID which is the common column between the 2 tables.

To say for your case, join your tables based on the common columns between them. (To say in brief). Basically joins between tables can be defined only by knowing the business case and the table structure

Hope this gives you some fair idea about what is in....

[abeinke2018]

Excellent, thankyou for your help