Everything You Need to Master Power BI
21 expert resources from Putnam Analytics, organized by skill, role, and learning path.
DAX functions to know first
- CALCULATE()Change the filter context a measure evaluates in
- SUM()Add up a numeric column
- COUNT()Count rows that contain a value
- FILTER()Return a subset of a table
- RELATED()Pull a value across a relationship
- ALL()Ignore filters — the basis of most percentage-of-total measures
- RANKX()Rank rows by an expression
Which chart, and when
- Bar chartCompare categories against each other
- Line chartShow a trend across time
- Pie chartPart-to-whole, only with a handful of slices
- Scatter plotLook for a relationship between two numbers
- Table / matrixDetail people need to read row by row
Shortcuts worth the muscle memory
- Ctrl + DSelect the next matching occurrence
- Ctrl + Shift + LSelect every occurrence at once
- Alt + Shift + ↓Copy the current line down
- Ctrl + K, Ctrl + CComment out selected lines
A path from first report to fast reports
Week 1–2
Foundation
- · Core concepts
- · Choosing the right visual
- · Keyboard shortcuts
Week 3–4
Development
- · Power Query
- · DAX basics
- · Data modelling fundamentals
Week 5+
Advanced
- · Advanced DAX
- · Performance tuning
- · Multi-tool workflows
The library
Showing 21 of 21 resources
Putnam Analytics Power BI Cheat Sheet
Putnam Analytics · PDF · 17 pages
A branded, downloadable quick-reference covering DAX, operators, data modeling, visuals, transformations, workspaces, and security.
Branded Putnam Analytics edition — download directly from this hub.
Best for: Team handouts, New analysts, Print reference
Open resourceDataquest Power BI Cheat Sheet
Dataquest · PDF · 16 pages
A broad tour of the features that matter first: loading data, building a report, and choosing the right visual.
Best for: Team-wide reference, New analysts, Overview learning
Open resourceDataCamp Power BI Cheat Sheet
DataCamp · Interactive web guide
Walks through your first visualization and the handful of chart types that cover most business questions.
Best for: Quick lookup while building, Choosing a chart
Open resourcePragmatic Works Power BI Cheat Sheet for Beginners
Pragmatic Works · Printable poster + PDF
Core concepts and everyday tasks on one wall-friendly sheet — the best single handout for onboarding a team.
Best for: Team onboarding, Office reference, Training
Open resourceZero To Mastery Power BI Cheat Sheet
Zero To Mastery · PDF + online guide
Focused on Power Query: how to configure loading, shape columns, and keep transformations repeatable.
Best for: Data preparation workflows, Power Query deep dive
Open resourceMicrosoft Learn — Power BI with Azure Databricks
Microsoft · Official documentation
Storage modes, query folding, and refresh strategy. The reference to reach for when reports get slow.
Updated regularly — prefer it over blog posts when guidance conflicts.
Best for: Performance work, Cloud architectures
Open resourcePragmatic Works DAX Cheat Sheet
Pragmatic Works · Comprehensive reference
The DAX functions you actually reach for, with syntax and the context rules that trip people up.
Best for: DAX authors, Complex measures
Open resourceAll the DAX Functions You Need — In One Handy Sheet
Tajamul Khan · LinkedIn post · 520+ reactions
A one-page function index for looking things up mid-build.
Best for: Quick DAX lookup
Open resourceMaster Power BI DAX with 20 Essential Formulas
Essha Bisen · LinkedIn post
Twenty formulas that cover the majority of real reporting needs.
Best for: Learning core DAX patterns
Open resourceThe Ultimate Power BI DAX Cheat Sheet
Apoorva Iyer · LinkedIn post
Compiled from professional project notes — heavier on patterns than syntax.
Best for: Professional-grade DAX reference
Open resourcePower BI Cheat Sheet — 40+ Definitions Every Developer Must Know
Saumya Agarwal · Medium article
Plain-language definitions for the vocabulary that appears in every Power BI conversation.
Best for: Developer onboarding, Concept clarity
Open resourcePower BI Visualization Cheatsheet
Mohammed Jameel · LinkedIn post
Which visual to use for which data story, with the common mistakes called out.
Best for: Report design decisions, Choosing a chart
Open resourceThe Best Keyboard Shortcuts in Power BI (+ free cheat sheet)
Your Own KPI · YouTube · 2 minutes
Two minutes that pay for themselves in the first afternoon of report building.
Best for: Productivity, Quick wins
Open resourceTop 3 Power BI Timesaving Tips
Pragmatic Works · YouTube · 2 minutes
Three habits that shorten the loop between question and answer.
Best for: Time-saving techniques
Open resourceMicrosoft Learn — Power Query & data modelling tips
Microsoft · Official documentation
Column from Examples, DirectQuery versus Import, and how to set incremental refresh up properly.
Best for: Data preparation, Performance optimisation
Open resource100+ Excel, SQL, Power BI DAX and Pandas Functions
Pradeep M & Shakeer Shaik · LinkedIn post · 1,000+ reactions
The same operation shown four ways — useful when a team spans several tools.
Best for: Multi-tool teams, Function translation
Open resourceData Analysis Cheat Sheet — one sheet, four tools
Roshani Kumari · LinkedIn post
SQL, Power BI, Excel and Python side by side on a single page.
Best for: Multi-tool workflow reference
Open resourcePower BI Cheat Sheet for Data Analytics
Rajat Jain · LinkedIn post · 180+ reactions
Import, Power Query, modelling, DAX basics and time intelligence on one page.
Best for: One-page summary for analysts
Open resourceBest Power BI DAX Cheat Sheet (interview edition)
Prem Mandal · LinkedIn post · downloadable PDF
Revision material for interviews — also a fair skills check for existing team members.
Best for: Interview prep, Skill validation
Open resourcePower BI cheat sheet 2026
Ajay Yadav · LinkedIn post
What changed recently, and which older advice no longer applies.
Best for: Current best practices, New features
Open resourcePower BI visual cheat sheet
Frontlines Media · Social post · 4,600+ likes
A highly shareable single-image summary, good for pinning in a team channel.
Best for: Team distribution, Visual reference
Open resource