Refresh and hand off locally
See this course’s project requirements
A locally saved interactive Power BI report with checked measures, site filters, source CSVs and a tested refresh handoff.
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.
Want more background?
The idea in everyday life
Build a local interactive report for fictional workshop attendance and capacity.
A report is maintainable when its source paths, rules and refresh checks are documented.
Refresh and hand off locally — guided practice
Verify a source change, restore the baseline and save a maintainable local report.
Use free Power BI Desktop on a supported 64-bit Windows computer; check the linked current system requirements and installation policy. No cloud sign-in, subscription or publishing is needed. Save sessions.csv and sites.csv in one stable practice folder. Sessions are S1 N Jan 15 8/10; S2 S Jan 15 6/10; S3 N Feb 15 7/10; S4 S Feb 15 5/10; S5 N Mar 15 4/10; S6 S Mar 15 9/10 (all dates 2026; values attended/capacity). Sites: N=North, S=South. Follow lessons cumulatively and save report.pbix locally. Menu/pane labels can vary slightly with monthly releases; use the named feature.
1. Preserve the input
Copy sessions.csv to sessions-baseline.csv. Clear all report filters.
You should see: The baseline source can be restored.
A controlled refresh test should not erase the original.
2. Change one value
In sessions.csv change S5 attendance 4 to 6; keep capacity 10 and all other rows. Save and use Desktop Refresh.
You should see: Attendance 41, Capacity 60, FillRate 68.3%; North becomes 21.
One changed input should have a predictable model effect.
3. Restore and refresh
Restore the original file content, refresh and verify the three cards.
You should see: 39,60,65.0% return.
Restoring proves the report follows its current source.
4. Save the handoff
Save report.pbix locally. Include both CSVs, measures.txt, source-folder instructions and report-checks.md. Do not use Publish.
You should see: A recipient with Desktop can open the report and update local source paths if needed.
Moving CSVs can require Data source settings to point to the new folder.
What to finish
A local .pbix report, source CSVs, measure definitions and refresh evidence.
Watch for this
Assuming a locally saved report automatically provides cloud sharing or scheduled refresh.
How can I tell I understand it?
Complete the changed case, explain your result, and pass the three application checks.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.
Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.
Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
How to use Microsoft Power BI - Tutorial for Beginners
From Kevin Stratvert. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Optional course overview. Follow the written steps below at your own pace.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
Tools and templates
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Sources and further reading
Explore the references behind this lesson.
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.
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.
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.
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