- Mistake: Creating overly complex data models with unnecessary tables, relationships, and calculated columns.
- Consequence: This can lead to performance issues, slower report refresh times, and difficulty in maintaining the model.
- Solution: Keep data models as simple as possible. Only include the necessary tables and relationships, and use calculated columns and measures judiciously.
- Mistake: Not paying attention to data types and formatting in Power BI, leading to issues with calculations and visualizations.
- Consequence: Incorrect data types can result in calculation errors and misleading visuals, impacting the accuracy of the reports.
- Solution: Always check and set the correct data types for each column. Format data appropriately to ensure consistency and clarity in your reports.
- Mistake: Cramming too many visuals onto a single report page in an attempt to showcase all data at once.
- Consequence: Overloading a report page can overwhelm users, make it difficult to interpret the data, and lead to performance degradation.
- Solution: Focus on clarity and simplicity. Use only the necessary visuals on each page, and spread content across multiple pages if needed.
- Mistake: Failing to optimize queries in the Power Query Editor, leading to slow performance and long refresh times.
- Consequence: Inefficient queries can make reports slow and unresponsive, frustrating users and making the development process more challenging.
- Solution: Apply filters early in the query process, remove unnecessary columns, and avoid complex transformations unless absolutely necessary.
- Mistake: Overlooking data security by not implementing Row-Level Security (RLS) or managing permissions correctly.
- Consequence: This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, putting the organization at risk of data breaches and non-compliance with regulations.
- Solution: Implement RLS where appropriate, manage user permissions carefully, and follow best practices for securing your Power BI reports and datasets.
