In this article, we'll share key concepts and details to help you understand how Kallidus Power BI datasets work when exported to an external SFTP location.
In this article, we'll cover:
What datasets are available
Kallidus Power BI is currently powered by 15 datasets across Learn and Perform. These datasets (also called semantic models) are standard for all customers, and they can all be exported to an external SFTP location.
For guidance on which datasets may be of interest, check out this overview of available datasets and how they're used.
As a quick reference, here are the Learn datasets:
- Accreditations
- Added Learning
- Courses, Catalogues, and Lessons Administration
- CPD
- Evaluations
- Events
- Learning Progress
- Lesson History
- SCORM
- Users, Groups, and Sign-in History dataset
- User Imports
Here are the Perform datasets:
- Development Activities
- Feedback
- Objectives
- Reviews
How datasets are structured
Each dataset is structured as a STAR schema, which consists of a set of Dimension tables that feed into a set of Fact tables.
For example, you can see the Development Activities dataset below consists of a central "activity history" Fact table, surrounded by a set of Dimension tables that feed into it - forming a star-like shape:
Dimension and Fact tables serve different purposes within a dataset. Using the example above:
- The Fact table holds data about the outcome being tracked (eg. the completion of development activities)
- The Dimension tables hold data about various elements of that outcome (eg. title and description for each activity, name and group for each user, etc.)
In short, the feeding of Dimension tables into a Fact table provides you with enriched data about a particular outcome. This enables you to build dynamic reports, where you can slice and dice data across a wide set of parameters - like reporting on development activity completions by activity titles, user groups, and more.
Please note that some datasets contain multiple Fact tables, but the concepts discussed above apply all the same. Some datasets also contain Bridge tables, which serve to tie multiple Dimension tables together to expand dimensional data - ultimately providing further enrichment of Fact tables.
For example, you can see the Learning Progress dataset below contains multiple Fact and Bridge tables:
Contents of a dataset export
Tables within each dataset
As discussed in previous sections, datasets consists of Dimension, Fact, and Bridge tables. When exported, each table will be exported as a separate CSV file with "Dim", "Fact", or "Bridge" in the file name.
For example, here's what the Learning Progress dataset looks like when its 14 Dimension, Fact, and Bridge tables are exported:
For guidance on the tables that make up a particular dataset, refer to the respective dataset Contents table in the resources linked below:
Please note that some Dimension and Bridge tables are common across multiple datasets (eg. vwDimUser). If you're exporting multiple datasets simultaneously, you only need to retain one copy of any duplicate tables as the data will be the same across all datasets.
For example, you can see the Accreditation and Learning Progress datasets below share multiple common tables:
Columns within each table
In addition to knowing which Dimension, Fact, and Bridge tables make up a particular dataset, it may also be helpful to know the contents of a particular table.
For guidance on the columns (also called headers) of a particular table, filter for the respective table in the resource linked below:
How to reconstruct an exported dataset
Once a dataset has been exported, it is simply a collection of unrelated CSV tables. To replicate the reporting capabilities of Kallidus Power BI, you need to reconstruct the relationships between the tables in your analytics tool of choice.
For guidance on the table relationships of each dataset, refer to respective dataset Mappings table in the resources linked below:
As a quick reference, here's how to use the Mappings table to reconstruct one of the table relationships for the Development Activities dataset:
Explore some sample data
If you'd like to play around with some sample data before delving into your own, check out this sample Learning Progress dataset.
Discover more about reporting with Power BI
Looking for quick answers? Check out FAQ, Reporting and Analytics with Power BI, packed with over 100 common questions and links to in-depth resources.
If you're new to reporting with Power BI, Reporting and analytics 101 introduces the fundamentals to help you get started. For a deeper dive, the short Academy Course Five must-know features explores these key topics in more detail and serves as the starting point for the Get Started: Reporting and analytics with Power BI course.
You can also join our regular Ask Me Anything: Reporting live events - come along and ask your question directly to our panel of experts.
Don't have your Academy account yet? Contact your Customer Experience Manager or the Support Team to sign up today.