Note: This is a mockup showing what an expanded r/PowerBI wiki could look like.
Based on analysis of 6,021 Reddit comments to identify the most common questions.
Get Started
New to Power BI? Here are the best resources to begin your journey.
Starting Points
- Microsoft Learn - Power BI Learning Paths - Official free training
- Power BI Desktop Getting Started - Your first report
- Dashboard in a Day (DIAD) - Free Microsoft workshop, check for local events
Data Modeling Fundamentals
This is the #1 most-linked resource in our community (35x in Eugene's comments):
- Star Schema Design Guidance - Essential reading for any Power BI developer
- Strong and Weak Relationships - Understanding relationship types
- Many-to-Many Relationships - When and how to use them
DAX Learning Path
- DAX.guide - Function reference by SQLBI
- SQLBI Articles - Deep dives into DAX concepts
- DAX.do - Online DAX playground
- DAX Patterns - Common calculation patterns
Power Query / M
- Query Folding Basics - Critical for performance (11x)
- Chris Webb's Blog - Power Query deep dives
YouTube Channels
- Guy in a Cube - Adam and Patrick from Microsoft
- SQLBI - Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo
- How to Power BI - Bas Dohmen's tutorials
- Enterprise DNA - Sam McKay
- Curbal - Ruth Pozuelo Martinez
Get Connected
- Power BI Community - Official forums
- Find a User Group - Local and virtual meetups
- Become a Super User - Community recognition program
- Microsoft MVP Program - For exceptional community contributors
Licensing
Common questions about Power BI licensing:
- Free tier: Power BI Desktop is free. Publishing requires a license.
- Pro vs Premium: Pro is per-user ($10/mo), Premium is capacity-based.
- No company account? See free options or use Publish to Web (public only).
Consulting
Thinking about freelancing or consulting with Power BI?
- Power BI Consultant AMA - Community Q&A (45x)
- Pricing guidance
- Getting started tips
Certification
- PL-300: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
- DP-600: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
- Free Practice Assessments
Power BI Desktop on Mac
Power BI Desktop is Windows-only, but you have options:
- Parallels Desktop - Run Windows in a VM on Mac
- Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) - Cloud-based Windows desktop
- Boot Camp - Dual-boot (Intel Macs only)
- Power BI Service - Web-based editing (limited features)
Quick Answers
These questions come up constantly - here are the answers:
Can't download PBIX from Service?
This is a workspace setting. See: Can't Download PBIX - Data Goblins
Need to do a self-join in Power BI?
See: Self-Join in Power BI (19x)
Free tool for DAX formatting/documentation?
Use Bravo for Power BI - free, open source
Does the data type in relationships matter?
Not really. See: Data Types in Relationships
How do I test accessibility?
Use Accessibility Insights - free Microsoft tool
Dashboard Design
Sharing your dashboard for feedback? Here's what reviewers typically look for:
Accessibility
Making dashboards accessible isn't just nice—it's often required by law (ADA, WCAG).
- Color contrast: Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for text. Use WebAIM Contrast Checker
- Don't rely on color alone: Add patterns, labels, or shapes for colorblind users (~8% of men)
- Alt text: Add descriptions to visuals (Format pane → General → Alt Text)
- Tab order: Set logical keyboard navigation order for screen readers
- Font size: Minimum 12pt for body text, larger for titles
Tools: Accessibility Insights (free) | Coblis Colorblind Simulator
Eye Flow & Visual Hierarchy
How users naturally scan your dashboard:
- Z-pattern: Eye moves top-left → top-right → bottom-left → bottom-right. Put key KPIs top-left.
- F-pattern: For text-heavy content, users scan horizontally then down the left side.
- Visual hierarchy: Size, color, and position signal importance. Biggest = most important.
- White space: Don't cram everything together. Breathing room aids comprehension.
- Alignment: Inconsistent alignment looks amateur. Use the grid.
Common Design Mistakes
- Too many colors: Stick to 3-5 colors max. Use your brand palette.
- Pie charts for comparison: Humans are bad at comparing angles. Use bar charts instead.
- 3D charts: Almost never appropriate. They distort perception.
- No clear story: Every dashboard should answer a specific question.
- Cluttered layout: If everything is important, nothing is.
Design Resources
- Data Visualization Guidelines - SQLBI
- Report Design Tips - Microsoft Learn
- Storytelling with Data - Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
Stay Up to Date
- Power BI Blog - Official announcements
- Power BI YouTube - Official channel
- Power BI Ideas - Feature requests and voting