Career: Mindset & Psychology

Question: What techniques can be used to reduce the file size of a Power BI report? Suggested Answer: Reducing the file size of a Power BI report (.pbix) improves performance, reduces load times, and makes sharing easier.  Key techniques to reduce file size 1. Optimize Data Sources Import Mode vs. DirectQuery/Dual Mode: Use DirectQuery or Live Connection for large datasets instead of importing. If importing, filter unnecessary data at the source. Use Query Folding : Ensure Power Query transformations are pushed to the source (SQL, etc.). Limit Rows : Load only necessary historical data (e.g., last 3 years instead of 10). 2. Clean & Transform Data Efficiently Remove Unused Columns : Delete unnecessary columns in Power Query. Use Appropriate Data Types : Smaller types (e.g., integer instead of text for IDs) reduce size. Replace High-Cardinality Text with IDs : Use numeric keys instead of long text labels. Avoid Complex Columns : JSON / XML columns bloat size—parse them in Po...

Question: How do you create a gauge chart in Power BI? Suggested Answer: A gauge chart (also called a speedometer or radial gauge) visualizes a single metric’s progress toward a goal.  Here’s a step-by-step guide: Step 1: Enable the Gauge Visual Open your Power BI report in Power BI Desktop. In the Visualizations pane, click the Gauge icon (resembles a speedometer). If you don’t see it, click ... (More options) → Get more visuals → Search for "Gauge" and import it. Step 2: Add Data to the Gauge Value : Drag your KPI (e.g., Sales Amount ) to the "Value" field. Target (Optional) : Add a goal (e.g., Sales Target ) to the "Target" field. Minimum/Maximum (Optional) : Manually set the gauge’s scale range by typing values in the " Minimum " and " Maximum " fields under Format → Gauge axis . Or, drag columns to " Minimum Value " and " Maximum Value " (e.g., 0 to 100%).

  What is the role of the M language in Power BI? Suggested Answer: The M language (also called Power Query Formula Language) is a critical component of Power BI, primarily used for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL). Here’s a detailed breakdown of its role: 1. Primary Role: Data Transformation M is the backbone of Power Query Editor, where it: Cleanses (e.g., removes duplicates, fixes errors). Reshapes (e.g., pivots/unpivots, splits columns). Enriches (e.g., merges tables, adds custom columns). Filters (e.g., removes irrelevant rows/columns). Example: m = Table.SelectRows(Source, each [Sales] > 1000) // Filters rows where sales exceed 1000 2. Key Features of M a) Declarative & Functional M scripts describe what to do (not step-by-step how), making it intuitive. Uses functions (e.g., Table.ReplaceValues, Text.Trim) and nested expressions. b) Query Folding Pushes transformations back to the source system (e.g., SQL Server) to improve performance. Example: A WH...