Different views available in Power BI Desktop

In Power BI Desktop, there are three main views available, each serving a specific purpose in the data modeling and visualization process:

1. Report View

• Purpose: To create and design visualizations (charts, graphs, tables, etc.) for data reporting.
• Key Features:
  • Drag and drop fields to create visual elements.
  • Use a wide range of visual types like bar charts, pie charts, maps, and custom visuals.
  • Arrange visuals on pages to design interactive reports.
  • Apply slicers, filters, and bookmarks to make the report interactive.
  • Format visuals and pages (e.g., color, size, labels).
• Typical Users: Analysts and designers focused on creating data-driven reports.

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2. Data View

• Purpose: To view, inspect, and explore data in tabular format after it has been imported into Power BI.
• Key Features:
  • View raw data from tables.
  • Make minor data corrections (e.g., renaming columns or fields).
  • Add calculated columns and tables using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions).
  • Validate data transformations applied during the ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process.
• Typical Users: Analysts working on verifying and refining datasets.

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3. Model View

• Purpose: To manage and visualize the relationships between tables in your data model.
• Key Features:
  • Create, edit, and view relationships between tables.
  • Define cardinality (e.g., one-to-many, many-to-many).
  • Set up cross-filtering directions (single or both).
  • Configure table properties such as row-level security (RLS).
  • Organize tables and columns for clarity using folders and display folders.
• Typical Users: Data modelers ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the data model.

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Summary of Views

View	Purpose	Key Focus
Report View	Design visual reports	Visualizations and interactivity
Data View	Inspect and refine data	Tables and DAX calculations
Model View	Manage table relationships	Relationships and model structure

Each view is accessible via the icons in the left-hand pane of Power BI Desktop, allowing you to switch between them seamlessly.