Day 2: Connecting to Your First Data Source

Day 2: Connecting to Your First Data Source – 30 Days of Power BI

What We Covered on Day 1

Power BI Overview
Power BI is Microsoft's powerful business analytics tool that transforms raw data into interactive, shareable visualizations.

Key Components

Reports and dashboards
Data modelling capabilities
DAX formula language
Enterprise sharing features

Now, let's dive into the practical steps of getting your data into Power BI.

The 'Get Data' Ribbon

Central Hub

The 'Get Data' button on the Home ribbon is your gateway to over 200 data sources.

Common Connectors

Excel, CSV, SQL Server, SharePoint, and web APIs are just a few options available.

Recent Files

Quick access to recently used files for faster workflow.

Step-by-Step: Connecting to Excel/CSV

Launch Power BI Desktop

Open the application and locate the 'Get Data' button on the ribbon.

Select File Type

Choose 'Excel' or 'CSV' from the menu, then click 'Connect'.

Navigate to File

Browse your folders to locate the sample data file you want to analyze.

Confirm Selection

Click 'Open' to proceed to the Navigator window.

The Navigator Window

After selecting your file, the Navigator window appears, showing all available tables and sheets within your file.

Key Features

View data previews before loading
Select specific sheets or tables
See row and column counts
Check data types automatically detected

Tip: Always preview data to ensure it looks correct before proceeding.

Import vs. DirectQuery

Mode	How It Works	Best For
Import Mode Recommended	Data is copied into Power BI's in-memory engine. Offers faster performance and full transformation capabilities.	Datasets under 1GB
DirectQuery Mode	Queries run directly against the source database in real-time. No data copied locally.	Large datasets or when you need live updates

For Day 2: Stick with Import mode — it's simpler and more forgiving for learning purposes.

The Big Decision: Load vs. Transform Data

Load

Data goes straight into Power BI without any modifications. Quick but inflexible.

Transform Data ✅

Opens Power Query Editor for data shaping, cleaning, and transformation. Recommended for beginners!

Why Choose Transform Data?

Fix data quality issues immediately
Remove unnecessary columns
Standardize formats and naming
Build reusable transformation steps

The Three Views in Power BI

Once your data is loaded, understanding these three views helps you navigate your report effectively.

📊

Report View

This is where you build visualizations and dashboards. Your main workspace for creating charts, tables, and KPIs from the loaded data.

🗄️

Data View

Shows your raw data tables exactly as they appear in the model. Useful for verifying data accuracy and exploring fields before visualization.

🔗

Model View

Displays table relationships and data model structure. Essential for understanding how different tables connect for analysis.

🎯 Day 2 Challenge

Find a Sample File

Locate any Excel (.xlsx) or CSV file on your computer with at least one table of data.

Connect in Power BI

Use the steps learned today to connect to your file through the 'Get Data' ribbon.

Preview and Load

Use the Navigator to preview data, then click 'Transform Data' to open Power Query.

Verify Success

Check that your data appears in the Data View and Field pane.

Congratulations! You've successfully connected your first data source. Take a moment to explore the data in the three views.

Coming Up: Day 3

Cleaning and Shaping Data in Power Query

Tomorrow, we'll master the Power Query Editor — your toolkit for transforming messy raw data into analysis-ready tables. You'll learn essential techniques like removing duplicates, changing data types, and filtering rows.

🗑️ Remove duplicates and blank rows
🔄 Change data types and formats
🔽 Filter and sort data efficiently
🪜 Apply transformations step-by-step

Prepare for Day 3: Keep your sample file handy and ensure Power BI Desktop is installed and working properly.

Published on: April 21, 2026

Learn more

Need help with this product?

We can help you with Day 2: Connecting to Your First Data Source

If you want help implementing, troubleshooting, or improving this product, contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.

D365 Snippets

Blog image