Multiple data sources in one report in Power BI - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Multiple data sources in one report

Business Question

How can we combine sales data and customer feedback data from two different sources into one report to understand overall performance and customer satisfaction?

Sample Data

Sales Data (Source 1)

OrderID	CustomerID	SalesAmount	Region
1001	C001	250	North
1002	C002	450	South
1003	C003	300	East
1004	C001	150	North
1005	C004	500	West

Customer Feedback Data (Source 2)

FeedbackID	CustomerID	Rating	Comments
F001	C001	4	Good service
F002	C002	5	Excellent
F003	C003	3	Average experience
F004	C004	2	Slow delivery
F005	C001	5	Very satisfied

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total Sales
  Formula: Total Sales = SUM('Sales Data'[SalesAmount])
  Result: 1650
• KPI Card: Average Customer Rating
  Formula: Average Rating = AVERAGE('Customer Feedback'[Rating])
  Result: 3.8
• Bar Chart: Sales by Region
  Data: Sum of SalesAmount grouped by Region from Sales Data
• Table: Customer Summary
  Columns: CustomerID, Total Sales, Average Rating
  Formula for Total Sales per Customer:
  Total Sales per Customer = CALCULATE(SUM('Sales Data'[SalesAmount]), FILTER('Sales Data', 'Sales Data'[CustomerID] = SELECTEDVALUE('Customer Feedback'[CustomerID])))
  Formula for Average Rating per Customer:
  Average Rating per Customer = CALCULATE(AVERAGE('Customer Feedback'[Rating]), FILTER('Customer Feedback', 'Customer Feedback'[CustomerID] = SELECTEDVALUE('Customer Feedback'[CustomerID])))
  Shows combined data from both sources by CustomerID

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
|      Total Sales     |  Average Customer     |
|       (KPI Card)     |      Rating (KPI)     |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                      Bar Chart: Sales by Region                      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         Table: Customer Summary                      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

A slicer for Region filters the Sales Data and updates the Total Sales KPI, Sales by Region bar chart, and the Customer Summary table to show only customers and sales in the selected region.

A slicer for CustomerID filters the Customer Summary table and updates the Average Customer Rating KPI to show the rating for the selected customer only.

Self Check

If you add a filter for Region = North, which components update and what changes occur?

• Total Sales KPI: Updates to sum sales only from North region (250 + 150 = 400)
• Sales by Region Bar Chart: Shows only North region bar
• Customer Summary Table: Shows only customers with sales in North region (C001) with their total sales and average rating
• Average Customer Rating KPI: Does not change unless CustomerID filter is applied

Key Result

A report combining sales and customer feedback data from two sources showing total sales, average rating, sales by region, and customer summaries.

Practice

1. What is the main benefit of using multiple data sources in one Power BI report?

easy

A. You can combine different types of data for richer insights.

B. It automatically cleans all data without user input.

C. It limits the report to only one data table.

D. It removes the need for relationships between tables.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of multiple data sources

   Multiple data sources allow combining different datasets to get a fuller picture.

2. Step 2: Identify the benefit in report insights

   Combining data from various sources enriches the analysis and insights.

3. Final Answer:

   You can combine different types of data for richer insights. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Multiple data sources = richer insights [OK]

Hint: Multiple sources mean combining data for better insights [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking multiple sources clean data automatically
• Believing multiple sources limit data to one table
• Assuming relationships are not needed

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a new data source in Power BI Desktop?

easy

A. Right-click on a visual and select Add Data Source

B. Use the Modeling tab to create a new data source

C. Go to Home tab > Get Data > Choose source > Load

D. Drag and drop files directly onto the report canvas

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the process to add data

   In Power BI Desktop, new data sources are added via Home tab's Get Data option.

2. Step 2: Confirm the correct menu and steps

   Choose the source type and then load the data into the report.

3. Final Answer:

   Go to Home tab > Get Data > Choose source > Load -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Get Data on Home tab = add source [OK]

Hint: Use Home > Get Data to add sources [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add data from the Modeling tab
• Right-clicking visuals to add data
• Dragging files onto the canvas doesn't load data

3. Given two tables from different data sources: Sales and Products, which DAX formula correctly calculates total sales amount by product category assuming a relationship exists?

medium

A. Total Sales = SUM(Sales[Amount])

B. Total Sales = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), Products[Category])

C. Total Sales = SUMX(Products, RELATED(Sales[Amount]))

D. Total Sales = SUMX(Products, SUM(Sales[Amount]))

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the relationship usage

   With a relationship between Sales and Products, SUM(Sales[Amount]) aggregates sales correctly by category in visuals.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each formula

   Total Sales = SUM(Sales[Amount]) sums Sales amount directly, which works with relationships. Total Sales = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), Products[Category]) syntax is invalid. Total Sales = SUMX(Products, RELATED(Sales[Amount])) misuses RELATED. Total Sales = SUMX(Products, SUM(Sales[Amount])) incorrectly sums the grand total for each product row, inflating results.

3. Final Answer:

   Total Sales = SUM(Sales[Amount]) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   SUM with relationships = correct total [OK]

Hint: Use SUM on sales column when relationships exist [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using CALCULATE without filter expression
• Misusing RELATED in SUMX
• Overcomplicating simple SUM aggregation

4. You imported two data sources but your report shows no combined data. What is the most likely issue?

medium

A. You added too many visuals on the report page.

B. You did not refresh the data after import.

C. You used the wrong file format for import.

D. You forgot to create relationships between tables.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why combined data is missing

   Without relationships, tables from different sources cannot connect, so combined data won't show.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Refreshing data or file format issues usually cause errors, not missing combined data. Too many visuals do not affect data combination.

3. Final Answer:

   You forgot to create relationships between tables. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Missing relationships = no combined data [OK]

Hint: Create relationships to combine data sources [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring relationships after importing data
• Assuming refresh fixes missing relationships
• Blaming visuals for data connection issues

5. You have sales data from Excel and customer data from SQL Server. You want to create a report showing total sales per customer region. How should you combine these sources effectively?

hard

A. Create separate reports for each source and link them with bookmarks.

B. Load both sources, create a relationship between customer IDs, then build visuals using fields from both tables.

C. Load only the sales data and manually type customer regions in Power BI.

D. Merge the Excel and SQL tables into one before loading into Power BI.

Solution

1. Step 1: Load both data sources separately

   Import Excel sales data and SQL customer data into Power BI as separate tables.

2. Step 2: Create a relationship between customer IDs

   Link the tables on customer ID to connect sales with customer regions.

3. Step 3: Build visuals using fields from both tables

   Use the relationship to show total sales by customer region in one report.

4. Final Answer:

   Load both sources, create a relationship between customer IDs, then build visuals using fields from both tables. -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Separate sources + relationship + visuals = combined report [OK]

Hint: Load sources, relate keys, then build combined visuals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to merge tables outside Power BI unnecessarily
• Ignoring relationships and typing data manually
• Splitting data into separate reports instead of combining