Interface overview (Report, Data, Model views) in Power BI - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Interface overview (Report, Data, Model views)

Goal

This dashboard helps you understand the three main views in Power BI: Report, Data, and Model views. It shows what each view is for and how they connect to build a complete report.

Sample Data

Product	Category	Sales	Quantity
Notebook	Stationery	120	10
Pen	Stationery	80	20
Chair	Furniture	300	5
Desk	Furniture	450	3
Monitor	Electronics	600	4
Keyboard	Electronics	150	7

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card - Total Sales: Shows total sales amount.
  Formula: Total Sales = SUM(Sales[Sales])
  Result: 1700
• Bar Chart - Sales by Category: Visualizes sales grouped by product category.
  Formula: SUM(Sales[Sales]) by Sales[Category]
• Table - Raw Data View: Displays the sample data as is for detailed inspection.
• Model View Diagram: Shows relationships between tables (in this case, a single Sales table). This view helps understand data structure.
• Report View Explanation: Text box explaining that this is where visuals like charts and cards are created and arranged.
• Data View Explanation: Text box explaining that this view shows the raw data in table format for checking and cleaning.
• Model View Explanation: Text box explaining that this view shows how tables relate and helps create relationships.

Dashboard Layout

+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|        KPI Card: Total Sales |  Bar Chart: Sales by Category |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|  Table: Raw Data View        |  Text: Report View Explanation|
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|  Text: Data View Explanation |  Text: Model View Explanation |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|           Model View Diagram (full width)              |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Filters or slicers applied in the Report view (like selecting a category) update the KPI card and bar chart to show filtered results. The Table view also updates to show only filtered rows. The Model view remains static as it shows data structure.

Self Check

If you add a filter to show only the 'Furniture' category, which components update?

• KPI Card: Total Sales updates to show sales only for Furniture (300 + 450 = 750).
• Bar Chart: Sales by Category updates to show only Furniture category bar.
• Table: Raw Data View updates to show only rows with Furniture category.
• Model View Diagram: Does not change because it shows data structure, not data content.

Key Result

Dashboard explaining Power BI's Report, Data, and Model views with sample sales data and visuals.

Practice

1. Which Power BI view is primarily used to create visuals and reports?

easy

A. Query View

B. Data View

C. Model View

D. Report View

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of Report View

   Report View is designed for creating visuals and reports in Power BI.

2. Step 2: Compare with other views

   Data View is for managing data tables, Model View is for managing relationships, and Query View does not exist as a main view.

3. Final Answer:

   Report View -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Report View = Create visuals and reports [OK]

Hint: Report View = visuals and reports creation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Data View with Report View
• Thinking Model View is for visuals
• Selecting a non-existent Query View

2. Which of the following is the correct way to switch to Data View in Power BI?

easy

A. Click the table icon on the left pane

B. Click the chart icon on the left pane

C. Click the relationship icon on the left pane

D. Click the gear icon on the top menu

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the icon for Data View

   Data View is accessed by clicking the table icon on the left pane in Power BI.

2. Step 2: Verify other icons

   The chart icon is for Report View, the relationship icon is for Model View, and the gear icon is for settings, not views.

3. Final Answer:

   Click the table icon on the left pane -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Table icon = Data View [OK]

Hint: Table icon = Data View [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Clicking chart icon instead of table icon
• Confusing relationship icon with Data View
• Looking for Data View in settings

3. In Model View, you create a relationship between two tables. What is the main effect of this action?

medium

A. It allows filtering data across related tables

B. It changes the data values in the tables

C. It creates a new visual report automatically

D. It deletes duplicate rows from tables

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of relationships in Model View

   Relationships connect tables to allow data filtering and aggregation across them.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect effects

   Relationships do not change data values, create visuals, or delete rows.

3. Final Answer:

   It allows filtering data across related tables -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Relationships enable cross-table filtering [OK]

Hint: Relationships enable filtering between tables [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking relationships change data values
• Expecting automatic visual creation
• Confusing relationships with data cleaning

4. You tried to create a relationship in Model View but it failed. Which of these is a likely cause?

medium

A. The Data View is empty

B. You are in Report View instead of Model View

C. The tables have no common columns with matching data

D. You have too many visuals on the report page

Solution

1. Step 1: Check relationship requirements

   Relationships require common columns with matching data types and values.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Being in Report View or having many visuals does not prevent creating relationships; empty Data View means no data but not necessarily failure cause.

3. Final Answer:

   The tables have no common columns with matching data -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Common columns needed for relationships [OK]

Hint: Relationships need matching columns in tables [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to create relationships in wrong view
• Blaming visuals for relationship errors
• Ignoring data type mismatches

5. You want to create a report showing sales by product category and also filter by customer region. Which Power BI views will you use to prepare and build this report?

hard

A. Report View only, because it handles all tasks

B. Data View to check data, Model View to create relationships, Report View to build visuals

C. Model View only, because relationships create visuals

D. Data View only, because it shows all data

Solution

1. Step 1: Prepare data in Data View

   Check and clean data tables for sales, products, and customers in Data View.

2. Step 2: Create relationships in Model View

   Set relationships between product and customer tables to enable filtering by region.

3. Step 3: Build report visuals in Report View

   Use Report View to create charts showing sales by product category and apply filters.

4. Final Answer:

   Data View to check data, Model View to create relationships, Report View to build visuals -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Use all three views for data prep, modeling, and reporting [OK]

Hint: Use Data, Model, and Report views together [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using only Report View for all tasks
• Ignoring relationships in Model View
• Skipping data checks in Data View