Average Rating: (26 Reviews)
The classic Excel PivotTable did a great job of letting us quickly pivot and slice data for years. There was a ton of logic built into the tool in order to make it easy for end users, but that ease of use had a cost: it didn’t scale to multiple data source tables. And worse, it actually kept you from learning the terms to scale your own knowledge.
At the core of every good Power Pivot or Power BI solution is the Data Model. But do you really know how to work with it properly? What shape your tables should have? When you should split tables up, when you should flatten them, and how to manipulate the data on the fly to do so?
Built by business professionals, for business professionals, this course is intended to teach you the right way to build solid and scalable dimensional models. Whether you are already building data models regularly, or are new to the concept of dimensional modeling, this course will give you all the tools you need to build the best self service business intelligence models possible.
After a review of the core benefits of the Power Query Data Model and reporting technologies in your favourite tool, we’ll look at some steps that you should consider when architecting your solution. These tips should help you crystalize what your audience requires, as well as clarify what data you need in order to get there. You’ll also learn how to identify if your data is “normalized” for consumption by the Data Model, and experience an example of cleaning up an ugly pivoted data set.
You’ll learn key concepts and terminology around data warehousing and dimensional modeling including Facts, Dimensions, Relationships, Schemas, Keys, and more. You’ll learn why the PivotTable has been “too helpful”, and how it can impact your ability to extend your data models.
Armed with the background theory on modeling, it’s then time to get your hands dirty with hands-on examples of solving several “many to many” join problems. From composite keys to bridge tables, slowly changing dimensions to flattening snowflakes, you’ll learn which tools and techniques to use and when.
With the theory and recipes behind you, we’ll then jump into one of the most exciting parts of the journey: looking at complex real-world cases that seem built to defy you. Not only will you learn how to apply dimensional modeling rules to solve the challenges, but you’ll also learn why – just sometimes – you may need to violate some of those recommended practice rules as well.
This is an exciting course, as it pairs two of self service business intelligence’s most powerful features (Power Query and the Data Model) together in one place, using each for what they were designed to do. You’ll leave armed with not only the experience, but handy reference cards to apply these techniques to your own data, and to determine, “Is this a Power Query job, or a DAX job?”
And the best part of all of this? Every registration will include both the Excel and Power BI versions of the course, so we’ve got you covered no matter which platform you are using.
This course is designed for Data Professionals who have some experience with designing self-service business intelligence models in Excel or Power BI.
Ideally, you should have encountered one or more of the following problems in the real world:
Visit our Learning Journey page to compare courses by skill level and area of specialization.
Average Rating
(based on 26 reviews)
Phase 1 of Dimensional Modeling for the Excel Pro released, including the following modules:
Phase 2 of Dimensional Modeling for the Excel Pro released, including the following modules:
Two updated videos for previously-released Overview of the Data Model module:
Phase 3 of Dimensional Modeling for the Excel Pro released, including the following modules:
Updated Power Query Recipe cards added to Dimensional Modeling Recipes module
Links added to corresponding course videos
Phase 4 (final phase) of Dimensional Modeling for the Excel Pro released, including the following module:
Additional support materials added:
The set of Power Query Recipes included with this course has been updated.
This course is built on an annual subscription format. Your registration comes with 12 months of access to the course materials, so you can refer back to the videos and example files whenever you like. Your subscription also gives you access to our private Discussion Forum, where you can ask questions related to the course materials, as well as how to apply those teachings to your own work. This forum is an invaluable resource that also allows students to practice their own learnings by helping others with those questions.
On your annual renewal date, your subscription will be automatically renewed with the credit card information on file, unless you cancel your subscription beforehand. You will be emailed a renewal reminder about one month before the renewal date. Please see the FAQs below for information about subscription renewals and cancellations.
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Cristian (verified owner) –
The course is amazing and has very clear explanations on every concept and process.
It allowed me, a non-data warehousing background user, to understand Dimensional Modeling and most of all HOW and WHY this is important when building a Power BI or Excel Power Pivot data model.
This course starts from basics and slowly goes into more advanced topics in a very detailed manner. There are lot of hands-on exercises to assess your learning and real-world sample projects to apply your knowledge. Support material and lectures are very well prepared and the overall quality is just amazing!
I would definitely recommend this course for anyone new to Power BI or Excel Power Pivot but also for any current user who really want to understand Data Modeling and improve one’s skills.
I wish I had this course available at the beginning of my Self Service BI Journey … it would have saved me a lot of headaches after trial-and-errors and hundreds of hours of unstructured learning.
Raisur (verified owner) –
This a great stunning course for those who are coming from Excel background. Very well organized and structured course. It blends data modeling and power query skills for modeling in a coherent and structured way. I highly recommend the course.
Greg Stoner (verified owner) –
This course has been immensely helpful in teaching me how to think about data- proper data structure data on the front end leads to getting the answers I need in a timely manner with much less work and no heartburn. I knew zero about dimensional modeling before discovering Skillwave, and now I can’t wait to learn more every time I log in. My only regret is that I hadn’t stumbled upon this A-Team of instructors years ago.
Mohammad (verified owner) –
A natural extension from Excel is Power BI stack. As dimensions are what we use to slice and dice our fact table(s), this course can add great value to the skill set of the learner. This is the second course I got from Skillwave platform and now I am in progress of this course and I can say the instructors (for ex, Ken Puls) explain the concepts in a cogent manner.
Compared to some other providers, the courses may be more affordable but I would ask the platform to offer the budget-constrained learners occasional special prices.
Steffen (verified owner) –
If you search for a course of dimensional/data modeling, this is the right course for you. The course explains the concepts of dimensional modeling precise and clear!
Your become explanations and suggestions on how you should prepare your data model with a lot of “wow this is how it works” moments.
I can recommend the course to everyone who is interested in Power Pivot in Excel or Power BI! This course had helped me lot to understand how I have to structure my data right!
Normand (verified owner) –
Finally a course that suggests an effective method for structuring a sustainable model. If you want an approach that will follow you the rest of your career, this is the course to take.
Kasper (verified owner) –
Great course ! really informative and great learning. Fantastic teachers!
Alicja Siwak (verified owner) –
Amazing course, very well structured. Trainers explain in a very precise way why we need data modeling and what are the best practices for creating a sustainable model. Truly great content, money well invested
Yoash (verified owner) –
Great course and together Supercharge Power BI make the difference, easy to understand videos make life easy.
Nick Burns (verified owner) –
This course gave me great fundamentals on how to construct sustainable models that can be easily expanded.
Thomas (verified owner) –
I did both legs. Well structured course that helps understanding the technical merits and it is essential for the understanding. A course everyone should take.
Solar (verified owner) –
Great course, even though the study history disappeared after the web updates, but the Customer service manager contacted me a few times to explain the solutions. They can revive the history and this will not happen any more. Very nice staff, the content always very valuable. I learned a lot from Skillwave and SQLBI, the instructors are very talent in BI world! It is good for all level learners to give a taste!
Stanton (verified owner) –
Understanding dimensional modeling is a critical piece of the Power BI and Power Pivot puzzle. The Dimensional Modeling course teaches both what it is and how to apply it. Using video and hands-on examples, Skillwave delivers comprehensive training. All I can say is Skillwave’s Dimensional Modeling rocks it! Thank you, Ken, Matt, and Miguel.
Melinda C. (verified owner) –
I loved the patient and thorough way things were explained and shown by example, and the quick responses to questions asked. Thank you for creating courses to share your knowledge with others. Keep up the great work.
Jennifer Abell (verified owner) –
I liked that this course showed the difference between Excel & Power BI, and explained query folding and how to minimize size of model. Truly, this course was the first time I’ve gotten a good understanding of what query folding is, when to expect it to happen and when not, as well as how to keep it going for as long as possible. For me, that was the most valuable part of the course.
Alenka (verified owner) –
I liked the comprehensive course materials, the lecturers, and the immediate business usability.
John R (verified owner) –
I like that the lessons have the clear explanations with visual steps, and the right duration length makes it easy to follow and absorb. The instructors genuinely want to help improve your skills, and deliver well explained concepts, with step by step visual demonstrations. Great place to learn.
Gary Clutterbuck (verified owner) –
All Skillwave Training courses provide really clear instructions and great advice, along with useful examples that are adaptable to your own situations.
Peter Scobbie (verified owner) –
I just love the presentation style, enthusiasm exudes from the voices involved, especially that of Ken. The annual renewal is so important to keep going and use the courses as a reference library of topics which get forgotten because of lack of use in day to day work.
Xinning (verified owner) –
This course taught me a lot of tips and tricks on how to build a good data model.
Rodger (verified owner) –
The whole training experience is based on the combination of relevancy of of any lesson, key concepts, example, and the speed of the instruction. It is amazingly perfect… for me, anyway.
Joe Rapp (verified owner) –
I liked learning the concepts of Power BI and how it works under the hood. Understanding the concepts has an immediate impact on creating the visuals.
Eric Hartwig (verified owner) –
I liked the highly detailed material covered in each class. Keep up the great work and I look forward to more courses as they become available!
Carlton Seymour (verified owner) –
Wow! Wow! Wow! Just finished the Power BI side of this course and will now start the Excel version. Learnt so much and just cannot wait to start implementing them in my work projects.
David P. Voss (verified owner) –
I everything about the course!
1. The format of first providing the theory and recipe then following up with an example
2. The structure of beginning with the (base) introduction of a data model, table relationships (joins) and then the finer points
3. Pointing out the time savings and increased functionality of building better models