Hands-On Business Intelligence with DAX. by Ian Horne

Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) is known for its ability to increase efficiency by extracting new information from data that is already present in your model. With this book, you’ll learn to use DAX’s functionality and flexibility in the BI and data analytics domains.

You’ll start by learning the basics of DAX, along with understanding the importance of good data models, and how to write efficient DAX formulas by using variables and formatting styles. You’ll then explore how DAX queries work with the help of examples. The book will guide you through optimizing the BI workflow by writing powerful DAX queries. Next, you’ll learn to manipulate and load data of varying complexity within Microsoft products such as Power BI, SQL Server, and Excel Power Pivot. You’ll then discover how to build and extend your data models to gain additional insights, before covering progressive DAX syntax and functions to understand complex relationships in DAX. Later, you’ll focus on important DAX functions, specifically those related to tables, date and time, filtering, and statistics. Finally, you’ll delve into advanced topics such as how the formula and storage engines work to optimize queries.

By the end of this book, you’ll have gained hands-on experience in employing DAX to enhance your data models by extracting new information and gaining deeper insights.

What you will learn
Understand DAX, from the basics through to advanced topics, and learn to build effective data models
Write and use DAX functions and expressions with the help of hands-on examples
Discover how to handle errors in your DAX code, and avoid unwanted results
Load data into a data model using Power BI, Excel Power Pivot, and SSAS Tabular
Cover DAX functions such as date, time, and time intelligence using code examples
Gain insights into data by using DAX to create new information
Understand the DAX VertiPaq engine and how it can help you optimize data models
Who this book is for
This book is for data analysts, business analysts, BI developers, or SQL users who want to make the best use of DAX in the BI and data analytics domain with the help of examples. Some understanding of BI concepts is mandatory to fully understand the concepts covered in the book.

Table of Contents
What is DAX?
Using DAX Variables and Formatting
Building Data Models
Working with DAX in Excel, Power BI and SSAS
Getting it into Context
Progressive DAX Syntax and Functions
Table Functions
Date, Time and Time Intelligence Functions
Filter Functions
Statistical Functions
Working with DAX Patterns
Optimising Your Data Model
Optimising Your DAX Queries