Reporting - Datasets: Understanding data folders and data fields

*** Please note, this article refers to Reporting and Analytics with Power BI. View the FAQ for more details. ***

In this article, we'll look at how a dataset is structured and how to use the data inside it. 

When you start a new report you'll be prompted to select a Dataset. This will include Data fields - information such as Name, Title, Course title etc) and measures. Measures are pre-built calculations with numeric data. For example, the % of enabled Users or the number of Users with a 'Not started' status for a Course. 

The Dataset selected will determine the Data folders available and the Data Fields available to include in the report. Find out more about the available datasets. 

Watch the video to find out more (We’ve chosen the Accreditation analysis dataset as an example, but the principles apply to other datasets too):

The Data panel

The Data panel contains folders, within which you will find all the information typically required to build a report with the selected dataset.

For example, The Accreditation dataset contains folders titled Accreditation, Accreditation, history, User and so on. Every folder contains subfolders. The 'Details' folder, for example, will contain typically non-numeric information such as Accreditation type, Accreditation title, Accreditation code, and so on.

There are also folders of custom fields, measures (pre-built calculations with numeric data), and Users - containing details such as 'last sign-in', start date, etc.

A green tick will identify when a data item is used in a visualisation, for example a table:

Discover more about User-created reports

For a hands-on learning experience, explore our Deep dive courses in The Academy, and watch as Gary builds reports from scratch to meet specific briefs. 

If you prefer to start at the beginning, check out Get Started: Reporting and Analytics with Power BI. You'll begin with Power BI’s top five features, then dive deeper into each one with step-by-step guidance.

Need quick answers? Check out our FAQ, Reporting and Analytics with Power BI, packed with 100+ common questions and in-depth resources. You can also join our regular Ask Me Anything: Reporting live events, to ask your question directly to a Power BI expert. Search PWRFAQ in The Academy for real-world use cases, examples, and scenarios with User-created reports.

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