Report Builder overview in Power BI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is Power BI Report Builder used for?

Power BI Report Builder is a tool to create paginated reports that are formatted to fit well on a page and can be printed or shared as PDFs.

beginner

What is a paginated report?

A paginated report is a report designed to display all data in a fixed layout, often spanning multiple pages, ideal for printing or PDF export.

intermediate

Name two key features of Report Builder.

1. Precise control over report layout.
2. Ability to connect to various data sources including Power BI datasets.

intermediate

How does Report Builder differ from Power BI Desktop?

Report Builder focuses on paginated, print-ready reports with fixed layouts, while Power BI Desktop is for interactive, visual dashboards and reports.

intermediate

What types of data sources can you connect to in Report Builder?

You can connect to SQL Server, Power BI datasets, Analysis Services, and other relational databases to build your reports.

What is the main purpose of Power BI Report Builder?

A Create paginated, print-ready reports

B Build interactive dashboards

C Write DAX formulas

D Manage Power BI workspaces

Power BI Report Builder is designed to create paginated reports that are formatted for printing or PDF export.

Which report type is best suited for printing and fixed layouts?

A Dashboards

B Interactive reports

C Paginated reports

D Dataflows

Paginated reports are designed to fit well on pages and are ideal for printing.

Which tool would you use to create interactive visual reports in Power BI?

A Excel

B Power BI Desktop

C SQL Server Management Studio

D Report Builder

Power BI Desktop is used for creating interactive visual reports and dashboards.

Can Report Builder connect to Power BI datasets as a data source?

A Yes

B No

C Only with a premium license

D Only through Excel

Report Builder can connect directly to Power BI datasets to build paginated reports.

Which feature is NOT typical of Report Builder?

A Fixed page layout

B Multi-page reports

C Export to PDF

D Interactive slicers

Interactive slicers are typical in Power BI Desktop, not in Report Builder which focuses on fixed layouts.

Explain what Power BI Report Builder is and when you would use it.

Think about reports that need to look good on paper or PDF.

Describe the difference between Power BI Report Builder and Power BI Desktop.

Consider how users interact with the reports.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of Power BI Report Builder?

easy

A. To create detailed, printable reports using a visual drag-and-drop interface

B. To write complex DAX formulas for data modeling

C. To design dashboards with interactive visuals only

D. To manage data sources and refresh schedules

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Report Builder's main function

   Report Builder is designed to create detailed, printable reports with tables, charts, and text.

2. Step 2: Compare options with this function

   Only To create detailed, printable reports using a visual drag-and-drop interface describes creating detailed, printable reports using drag-and-drop, matching Report Builder's purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To create detailed, printable reports using a visual drag-and-drop interface -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Report Builder = Detailed printable reports [OK]

Hint: Remember: Report Builder = printable reports, not dashboards [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Report Builder with Power BI Desktop dashboards
• Thinking Report Builder is for data modeling
• Assuming it manages data refresh schedules

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a chart in Power BI Report Builder?

easy

A. Write a DAX formula to generate the chart

B. Import a chart image from external software

C. Drag and drop the Chart item from the toolbox onto the report canvas

D. Use SQL queries to create the chart directly

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how visuals are added in Report Builder

   Report Builder uses drag-and-drop from the toolbox to add items like charts.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   Drag and drop the Chart item from the toolbox onto the report canvas correctly describes dragging the Chart item onto the canvas. Others involve coding or importing images, which are not standard methods.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag and drop the Chart item from the toolbox onto the report canvas -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Drag-and-drop charts = Drag and drop the Chart item from the toolbox onto the report canvas [OK]

Hint: Charts come from toolbox drag-and-drop, not code [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to write DAX to create charts in Report Builder
• Confusing Report Builder with Power BI Desktop visuals
• Importing images instead of using built-in chart tools

3. Given a report with a table and a chart added in Report Builder, what happens when you preview the report?

medium

A. The report displays a static preview with data rendered in the table and chart

B. The report shows a live interactive dashboard with slicers

C. The report opens the data source query editor

D. The report automatically publishes to Power BI Service

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the preview function in Report Builder

   Preview shows a static rendering of the report with data in tables and charts, not interactive dashboards.

2. Step 2: Compare options with preview behavior

   The report displays a static preview with data rendered in the table and chart correctly describes a static preview. Options B, C, and D describe other unrelated actions.

3. Final Answer:

   The report displays a static preview with data rendered in the table and chart -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Preview = Static report view [OK]

Hint: Preview shows static report, not interactive dashboard [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting interactive slicers in Report Builder preview
• Thinking preview edits data source queries
• Assuming preview publishes report automatically

4. You added a table to your report in Report Builder but it shows no data when previewed. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The table was added using drag-and-drop from the toolbox

B. The data source connection is not configured or is invalid

C. The report was saved before adding data

D. The preview mode only shows charts, not tables

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why a table shows no data in preview

   If the data source connection is missing or invalid, the table cannot retrieve data to display.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   The table was added using drag-and-drop from the toolbox is normal behavior, C does not affect data display, and D is false because preview shows all report items.

3. Final Answer:

   The data source connection is not configured or is invalid -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   No data in table = Data source issue [OK]

Hint: Check data source connection first if no data appears [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming drag-and-drop causes no data
• Thinking saving report affects data display
• Believing preview excludes tables

5. You want to create a report in Report Builder that includes a table, a chart, and a text box with a title. Which steps should you follow to build and share this report?

hard

A. Use Power BI Service to build the report; download it as PDF; upload to Report Builder

B. Write SQL queries for each visual; export the report as Excel; email it manually

C. Create visuals in Power BI Desktop; import them into Report Builder; publish directly

D. Drag and drop the table, chart, and text box onto the canvas; preview the report; save and publish it for sharing

Solution

1. Step 1: Build the report using drag-and-drop

   Report Builder allows adding tables, charts, and text boxes by dragging them onto the canvas.

2. Step 2: Preview, save, and publish the report

   After building, preview to check layout, then save and publish to share with others.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag and drop the table, chart, and text box onto the canvas; preview the report; save and publish it for sharing -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Drag-drop, preview, save, publish = Drag and drop the table, chart, and text box onto the canvas; preview the report; save and publish it for sharing [OK]

Hint: Build with drag-drop, preview, then save and publish [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to write SQL for visuals in Report Builder
• Confusing Report Builder with Power BI Desktop or Service
• Skipping preview before publishing