Book Image

Data Modeling with Microsoft Excel

By : Bernard Obeng Boateng
5 (1)
Book Image

Data Modeling with Microsoft Excel

5 (1)
By: Bernard Obeng Boateng

Overview of this book

Microsoft Excel's BI solutions have evolved, offering users more flexibility and control over analyzing data directly in Excel. Features like PivotTables, Data Model, Power Query, and Power Pivot empower Excel users to efficiently get, transform, model, aggregate, and visualize data. Data Modeling with Microsoft Excel offers a practical way to demystify the use and application of these tools using real-world examples and simple illustrations. This book will introduce you to the world of data modeling in Excel, as well as definitions and best practices in data structuring for both normalized and denormalized data. The next set of chapters will take you through the useful features of Data Model and Power Pivot, helping you get to grips with the types of schemas (snowflake and star) and create relationships within multiple tables. You’ll also understand how to create powerful and flexible measures using DAX and Cube functions. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to apply the acquired knowledge in real-world scenarios and build an interactive dashboard that will help you make important decisions.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
1
Part 1: Overview and Introduction to Data Modeling in Microsoft Excel
6
Part 2: Creating Insightful Calculations from your Data Model using DAX and Cube Functions
9
Part 3: Putting it all together with a Dashboard

Understanding your users

Before diving into the intricacies of color selection, it’s vital to understand your users. A dashboard’s purpose is to provide valuable insights, and its design should cater to its audience.

Know your audience’s preferences

Different audiences have different preferences. A financial analyst might prefer a more data-dense dashboard, while a marketing executive might opt for something more graphical. Consider the final dashboard’s end users and tailor the design to their preferences.

Accessibility is key

Ensure that your color choices are distinguishable for all users, including those with color blindness. Tools such as the Color Blindness Simulator can help you check how your dashboard looks to those with various forms of color vision deficiencies.

Consistency is crucial

The design theme should be consistent throughout the dashboard. For instance, if you’ve used a specific color for a product category in...