Create a Power BI report by adding visualizations

1. Launch Power BI Desktop and connect to your data source

To get started, launch Power BI Desktop and connect to the data source you want to analyze. Click on “Get Data” in the Home tab and select the appropriate data source. Follow the prompts to establish a connection and load your data into Power BI.

2. Navigate to the Report view

Once your data is loaded, navigate to the Report view by clicking on the Report tab at the top of the Power BI Desktop window. This is where you’ll build and design your report.

3. Add visualizations to the report canvas

In the Visualizations pane on the right side of the window, you’ll find a list of visualization types. Choose the desired visualization, such as a bar chart, line chart, pie chart, or map, and drag it onto the report canvas in the main area of the window.

4. Assign data fields to the visualization

In the Fields pane on the right side of the window, you’ll see a list of the data fields from your data source. Drag and drop the relevant fields onto the appropriate well(s) of the visualization. For example, assign a categorical field to the Axis well and a numerical field to the Values well of a bar chart.

5. Customize and format the visualizations

With the visualization selected, you can customize its appearance and format using the options available in the Visualizations pane on the right side. Adjust properties such as color, axis labels, legends, or data labels to suit your preferences and analysis needs.

6. Add more visualizations and arrange them

To add more visualizations, repeat steps 3-5. Select different visualization types and assign the appropriate data fields. Arrange and resize the visualizations on the report canvas to create a visually appealing and informative layout.

7. Apply interactions between visualizations

You can enable interactions between visualizations to create a linked experience. With the visualizations selected, go to the Format pane on the right side, expand the Interactions section, and configure how interactions should behave. This allows users to interact with one visualization and see the corresponding changes in other linked visualizations.

8. Add report elements and pages

In addition to visualizations, you can also add report elements like text boxes, images, shapes, or buttons to provide additional context or navigation. To create multiple report pages, click on the New Page button at the bottom left of the Power BI Desktop window and design additional pages with relevant visualizations and elements.

9. Save and publish the report

Once you’ve completed your report, save it by clicking on the Save button in the Power BI Desktop toolbar. You can save the report as a .pbix file to your local machine. If you want to share the report with others, you can publish it to the Power BI Service by clicking on the Publish button in the Power BI Desktop toolbar.

By following these steps, you can create Power BI reports with various visualizations to communicate your data effectively and derive meaningful insights.