The following are the steps that plays a major role while developing a Power BI report:

Step 1: Get Data (Identifying the Data Sources):

Power BI provides a direct way i.e., “Get Data” feature through which you are able to connect to a variety of sources that ranges from a flat file, server-based, and cloud-based data sources. The data can be connected through two modes Direct Query and Import Mode.

Direct Query:
Direct query enables you to query the source in real-time, however querying to server-based data sources has the following limitations:

Enterprise Gateway required.
All tables must come from same database.
No data type changes.
No calculated columns or tables in the model.

Import Mode:

Import Data Connectivity mode lets you import data into Power BI cache. Highly recommended to use Import connection when the data size is less than 1 GB, and the data is not continually changing. You can import data with schedule refresh to get the latest data. With Import connection, you can take full advantages of the high-performance query engine.

 

Step 2: Data Cleaning (ETL) Using Power Query:

After importing the data, it should be cleaned before using in the report, for those multiple transformations need to be performed over the raw data. Using Power Query transformations can be done easily, while for the complex ones Advanced Editor can be used. Data cleaning also plays an important role to improve the performance of the reports.

 

Step 3: Data Modeling:

Data modeling is the process of modeling of data tables, in most real-world problems you will get data stored in various related tables as you will be dealing with relational databases. We can create star schema and snowflake schema using power bi data model window. Using the manage relationship icon in the power BI modelling ribbon you can easily create a data model. When you click on that icon, the create relationships box appears where you can specify the type of relationship. Power BI provides the below cardinality options while creating relationships.

Many to one (*:1)
One to one (1:1)
One to many (1:*)
Many to many (*:*)

Power BI is excellent at setting the cardinality to default; it sets it according to your data.

You also need to make sure that you edit the Cross Filter Direction depending on your data model. Power BI often chooses Single for the Cross Filter Direction, but in some cases, it will choose the Both options.

 

Step 4: Data Visualization:

Data visualization brings data to life, making you the master storyteller of the insights hidden within your numbers. Through live data dashboards, interactive reports, charts, graphs, and other visual representations, data visualization helps users develop powerful business insight quickly and effectively. Power BI lets you to make a suitable dataset into

Pie Charts
Bar Charts
Column Charts
Line Charts
Scatter Charts
Bubble Charts
Map
KPI’s
Table

The visualization pane in the below figure in Power BI desktop is used to select the chart to be used in the dashboard and the columns to be used in the data pane.

You can also use ‘Custom visuals’ from Microsoft App source based on the requirement, you can also use advanced features like bookmarks and selection to create interactive reports. Once the report has been created, the final view will look like the below screenshot with charts, titles, and filters.

 

Step 5: Publish The Report:

Once the report is ready and tested, need to follow the below steps:

In Power BI Desktop, choose File > Publish > Publish to Power BI or select Publish on the Home ribbon.
Sign into Power BI, if you aren’t already signed in.
Choose the workspace into which you want to publish.
Once publishing is complete you will receive a link to your report through which you can view your report over the power bi service.