How can we integrate excel with Power BI ? Power BI interview questions and answers 353

 How can we integrate excel with Power BI ?

There are two main ways to integrate Excel with Power BI:

1. Import Excel data into Power BI:

• Import directly: Open Power BI Desktop and click "Home" > "Import Data". Select "Excel Workbook" and choose the desired file. This imports the entire data model from the Excel workbook.

• Import with Power Query: This option gives you more control over the imported data. Click "Home" > "Get Data" > "From File" > "Excel Files". In the Power Query Editor, you can filter, transform, and shape the data before loading it into Power BI.

2. Connect to Power BI data from Excel:

• Analyze in Excel: Open a Power BI report and click "Export" > "Analyze in Excel". This creates an Excel workbook with a live connection to the Power BI data model. You can analyze the data using PivotTables, charts, and other Excel tools. Changes made in Power BI will automatically reflect in the Excel file.

• Get Data from Power BI: Open Excel and click "Data" > "Get Data" > "From Power Platform" > "From Power BI". Select the desired Power BI dataset and load it into Excel. This creates a table with a live connection to the Power BI data. You can use Excel formulas and functions to analyze the data.

Additional options:

• Embed an Excel chart in Power BI: Create a chart in Excel and copy it. In Power BI Desktop, click "Visualizations" and choose "Custom visual". Select "Microsoft Excel - Bar Chart" (or other applicable visual) and paste the chart to embed it in the report.

• Publish Excel workbook to Power BI Service: Save your Excel workbook with Power BI integration features (slicers, measures, etc.). Publish the workbook to Power BI Service for collaborative sharing and analysis.

Choosing the right approach:

Which method to use depends on your specific needs. Importing data into Power BI is suitable for initial data acquisition and comprehensive analysis. Connecting to Power BI data from Excel is helpful for ad-hoc analysis and leveraging Excel's familiar functionalities. Consider factors like:

• Data size and complexity: For large datasets, Power BI is generally more performant.

• Desired visualization capabilities: Power BI offers a wider range of advanced visualizations.

• Collaboration needs: Power BI Service facilitates sharing and collaboration on reports and datasets.

Resources:

• Microsoft Learn: Connect to Excel data in Power BI Desktop: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/get-started-with-power-bi/

• Microsoft Learn: Use Analyze in Excel with Power BI: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/modern-analytics-excel/

• Power BI blog: Data Visualization with Excel and Power BI: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-and-power-bi/

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask if you have any further questions about integrating Excel with Power BI.