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Course 118 · Digital course 25

Build Interactive Reports with Power BI Desktop

Turn two small fictional CSVs into an interactive report and prove that its totals and filters mean what they say.

Before you start

A supported 64-bit Windows computer is required. Power BI Desktop is free; check Microsoft’s current memory/display requirements and your installation permissions.

See everything you’ll need

Practice materials and a worked example · Free download. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

A locally saved interactive Power BI report with checked measures, site filters, source CSVs and a tested refresh handoff.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload practice filesStart with the supplied materials, follow the lessons, and compare your work with the annotated example.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Optional course overview

Watch an introduction.

This overview from Kevin Stratvert introduces ideas you’ll practice in the lessons.

Watch directly on YouTube
Kevin StratvertHow to use Microsoft Power BI - Tutorial for BeginnersYouTube
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners age 14+ who meet the stated prerequisites.

Prepare before lesson one
  • A supported 64-bit Windows computer is required. Power BI Desktop is free; check Microsoft’s current memory/display requirements and your installation permissions.
  • Know basic tables and percentages. No Pro/Fabric subscription, cloud workspace, paid course or public sharing is needed.
  • Reading and core practice include the three checks. Initial software setup and optional video viewing take extra time.
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

A locally saved interactive Power BI report with checked measures, site filters, source CSVs and a tested refresh handoff.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • Two typed source queries and baseline counts.
  • Inspected one-to-many relationship.
  • Three explicit checked measures.
  • Site slicer, cards, verification table and dated chart.
  • Local report, source files and refresh handoff.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Rows and measures reconcile.
  • Site filters affect the intended data.
  • Visual labels and date ordering are clear.
  • Refresh and local handoff are reproducible.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Verify before visualizing

Confirm the source unit, rows and field types.

02

Check filter context

A ratio’s numerator and denominator need the intended matching scope.

03

Make refresh repeatable

Preserve sources, document paths and test one controlled change.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Query
A saved sequence that reads and prepares source data.
Relationship
A model link through matching keys.
Measure
A calculation evaluated in the current filter context.
Slicer
A visible control for filtering report data.
Refresh
Re-reading source data and applying saved preparation steps.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Import a defined dataset

    Load two CSVs and confirm rows and columns before making visuals.

  2. 2
    36 min

    Record data preparation steps

    Set and verify types using a reproducible transformation sequence.

  3. 3
    36 min

    Relate the two tables

    Create and test one-to-many filter propagation.

  4. 4
    36 min

    Create checked measures

    Define totals and a ratio that respond correctly to filters.

  5. 5
    36 min

    Design and test filter interactions

    Use a slicer and labeled visuals without hiding the report’s current scope.

  6. 6
    36 min

    Refresh and hand off locally

    Verify a source change, restore the baseline and save a maintainable local report.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
ZIP · practice files

Build Interactive Reports with Power BI Desktop practice files

Start with the supplied materials, follow the lessons, and compare your work with the annotated example.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

Microsoft: Get started with Power BI Desktop
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Import, preparation and report building.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Microsoft: Download Power BI Desktop
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Free desktop download and Windows/system requirements.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Microsoft: Overview of slicers
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Filter controls and visual interactions.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Microsoft: Create your own measures
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: New measure workflow, DAX and filter context.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Microsoft: Create and manage relationships
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Cardinality, active relationships and filter direction.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Microsoft: Column and measure references in DAX
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Measure/column naming separation and unqualified measure references.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

How to use Microsoft Power BI - Tutorial for Beginners
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Metadata retrieved and inspected on 2026-09-12: exact title and channel confirmed through YouTube oEmbed. Playback and full video content were not tested. Optional overview; the written lesson and supplied practice stand alone.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Link or provider embed only; do not copy video, audio or transcript.

Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one