How to Use the Included Sample Data in Power BI (+Examples)

If you’re new to Power BI and want to try out, you can use a sample data from Microsoft.

Data samples are in content packs which are bundles of dashboards, datasets, and reports.

These samples are also available as downloadable Excel workbook or as PBIX file from Microsoft’s Power BI Documentation.

There are 8 sample data you can get:

• Customer Profitability Sample
• Human Resources Sample
• IT Spend Analysis Sample
• Opportunity Analysis Sample
• Procurement Analysis Sample
• Retail Analysis Sample
• Sales and Marketing Sample
• Supplier Quality Analysis Sample

The sample data within the Power BI service are only available in content pack formats.

To get a sample data in Power BI service, click ‘Get data’ or its icon on the lower-left corner:

Then, click the ‘Samples’ link on the bottom part:

Power BI will then show you the available samples you can get.

Simply click on the one you would like to use.

For example, let’s use the “Retail Analysis Sample” by clicking on it:

Power BI will prompt you with a little description of the sample as well as if you would like to connect the sample.

Click ‘Connect’ to continue:

After Power BI successfully loads the sample data, you’ll then be brought to its dashboard along with a notification if you would like to view the dataset.

Getting sample data in Power BI Desktop is also easy. However, the steps aren’t the same as doing it in Power BI Service.

Here’s why:

In the online version, all you have to do is connect with the sample data. There’s no need to download anything or visit another web page.

Fortunately, there’s no need for you to remember any links or whatsoever.

On the Power BI Desktop, click ‘Help’ from tab list above the ribbon:

Then, click ‘Samples’ on the ribbon under the ‘Community’ group:

Your default browser will take you to the documentation page with the list of available sample data you can download as a PBIX file.

Click on the sample data you would like to download.

For example, click the first one — “Retail Analysis Sample PBIX” to download it:

After saving the file on your computer, go back to the Power BI Desktop to open the file.

Click ‘File’ on the tab list and select ‘Open’:

Now, find where you saved the file and open it.

Your sample data is now open on your Power BI Desktop.

You can now use the sample data to experiment with Power BI Desktop and what you can do with it.

Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop may both be Power BI tools but there are features that only one of them can do.

As you can see, it’s easy to get sample data with either Power BI Service or with the desktop version. Though some of the steps are different, the process is simple.