150 words agree or disagree to each question
Q1
This weeks discussion is defining what PowerPivot and DAX is, what they can be used for and how they can be ran on Excel. So, to begin a PowerPivot is very similar in nature to an Excel PivotTable. A PowerPivot is a tool that allows users to analyze large data that can be obtained from multiple sources. It allows users to observe the relationships between data that is complex and the data is provided in a more organized manner than a PivotTable. PowerPivot just like the Excel PivotTable has its own functions for use and its own syntax. Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) is a program language that can be used in PowerPivot which was originated by Microsoft (Murray, 2021).
There are many uses for both PowerPivot and DAX. PowerPivot allows the user to create workbooks that provide leaner information faster than a PivotTable (Murray, 2021). Since PowerPivot has the ability to analyze multiple tables of data it allows the user to condense the information into one model that is more comprehensible and time saving. With the help of DAX in PowerPivot we can eliminate the use of VLOOKUP which helps in analyzing the relationship of data (Murray, 2021). DAX expressions also start with the equal sign just like in Excel formulas (Murray, 2021).
To run PowerPivot in Excel first, you must click on File, then options, and then select Add Ins. Then you need to go to the bottom of the box and select COM Add-ins option from the Manage box and click Go (Murray, 2021). You must then check the option Microsoft PowerPivot for Excel and hit Ok (Murray, 2021). If there is data that needs to be pulled from other sources you can simply go to the Data option and select From Text/CSV, From Web, From Table/Range, Recent Sources, etc. Once you select where the data is obtained from the Power Query Editor will load the information into the file (Murray, 2021).
To run DAX in PowerPivot you need to select the data within the column that you want calculated (Murray, 2021). Then click on the Add button and then type the equal sign and the DAX formula can be typed in (Murray, 2021). Lastly, click on the Enter button to calculate the formula.
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References
Murray, A. (2021). How to use PowerPivot in Excel: The Ultimate Guide. Retrieved from: https://www.goskills.com/Excel/Resources/How-to-use-PowerPivot
Q2
PowerPivot and DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) are tools that can be used to help make sense of data within excel. First, PowerPivot is an excel add in that allows you to take data from a multitude of different sources (such as word, excel, text documents, and access databases) and put it into a pivot table, unlike the normal pivot tables where you instead just use the information you have in one workbook. This can be extremely useful when working with large data sets spread across multiple mediums, as it allows you the freedom to not have to copy and past everything into one place. An example I can think of where PowerPivot would be useful in my professional career would be where I am trying to gather data from multiple data repositories that dont always talk to each other. Often times I find myself having to run queries on wide date ranges and thus pull in a large amount of information. Using PowerPivot would greatly decrease the time needed to collate all the information into a pivot table and then manipulate the information for easier consumer digestion.
Data Analysis Expressions are a new type of formula (and not a programming language) that build off the normal formulas in excel and allow you to do more complex calculations and analysis. One way I could see myself using DAX formulas would be to compare different data across different periods of time using the time intelligence functions. These functions would allow me to look at specific information during two different time periods and compare the results.
In order to run PowerPivot and DAX, one would need to download and install the add-in into excel and then enable the add-n within the settings. After learning more about PowerPivot and DAX, I am excited to try these tools in both my work and personal life, as I can see many areas where their use would increase the efficiency of many tasks.
