A step-by-step path from Excel user to data analyst. It starts with what you already know in Excel and moves to the Data Model, Power Pivot, DAX and Power BI.
Start here
How to become a Data Analyst
A practical roadmap: skills to learn, in what order, and how to build a portfolio.
Part 2Tools to learn
Excel, Power Query, Power Pivot, SQL, Power BI and Python — what each one is for.
Part 3Power Pivot and the Data Model
Analyse millions of rows in Excel, beyond the worksheet row limit.
Part 4Power Query for data cleaning
Clean and combine messy files with steps that refresh.
Part 5Relationships and the star schema
Connect tables in the Data Model instead of using lookups.
Part 6DAX measures for beginners
Ten measures for totals, ratios, year-to-date and growth.
Part 7From Power Pivot to Power BI
Move your Excel model into Power BI and build a report.
Who this series is for
Anyone who already uses Excel at work and wants to move into reporting, MIS or data analyst roles. You do not need a programming background to start. Everything begins inside Excel.
What you will learn
- How data analysts think: question, data, analysis, answer.
- Cleaning messy data with Power Query.
- Building a Data Model and analysing millions of rows with Power Pivot.
- Writing your first DAX measures.
- Taking the same model into Power BI for dashboards.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Power BI to analyse data?
No. Excel with Power Query and Power Pivot can clean data, handle millions of rows, link tables and calculate with DAX measures. Power BI uses the same Power Query and DAX, so what you learn in Excel carries straight over.
What is the difference between Power Query and Power Pivot?
Power Query imports and cleans data. Power Pivot stores the cleaned tables in the Data Model, links them with relationships and calculates results with DAX measures for your PivotTables.
Which versions of Excel have Power Pivot?
Power Pivot is available in Excel for Windows, in Microsoft 365 and Excel 2016 and later. It is not available in Excel for Mac or Excel for the web.
In what order should I learn these tools?
Start with Excel formulas and PivotTables, then Power Query, then Power Pivot and DAX. Move to Power BI after that, and add SQL and Python once you are comfortable with the rest.