In the 40th session of Chandoo.org podcast, Let’s talk about Power Query. I have the pleasure and fortune to catch up with Miguel Escobar (who along with Ken Puls runs PowerQuery.Training website) and talk about this very exciting piece of technology and how it can make our life simpler.
What is in this session?
In this podcast,
- Welcome
- Miguel’s introduction, background and current projects
- What is Power Query
- How to install it
- Sample use cases of Power Query
- What is Power BI
- Resources for learning Power Query – Books & Courses
Listen to this session
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Click here to download the MP3 file.
Learn more about Power Query
Books:
I recommend 2 books for learning more about Power Query.
- Power Query for Power BI & Excel by Chris Webb
- M is for Data Monkey – A guide to M language in Power Query by Ken Puls & Miguel Escobar (pre-order only, release in November 2015)
Online classes:
Ken & Miguel regularly run an online class teaching hands-on techniques, implementation guidelines and secrets about Power Query. I have signed up for their next class and eagerly looking forward to it. I recommend going for their class if you want to seriously improve your Power Query skills.
Special offer worth $59 for Chandoo.org listeners
As a podcast listener, here is a special offer for you from PowerQuery.Training.
Use the discount code CHANDOO when signing up for their upcoming live session and get 10% off on the course fees.
Click here to signup for their upcoming class.
Note: Ken & Miguel are good friends and partners of Chandoo.org. When you join this course from above link, I receive a small commission. I am recommending this course because I genuinely think their program is suitable & awesome for anyone needing Power Query instruction.
Transcript of this session:
Download this podcast transcript [PDF]
Are you using Power Query? What has been your experience with it?
I have been playing with Power Query for last 18 months. I really like the technology and what it can do for us, analysts. I regularly use it to clean data, do quick transformations and set up models.
What about you? Have you been using Power Query? What is your experience like? Please share your success story in the comments.
9 Responses to “Show forecast values in a different color with this simple trick [charting]”
While this works in a pinch, it clearly "lightens" the colors of the entire chart. Depending on where you use this, it will be blatantly obvious that you don't know what you are doing and present a poor looking graph.
Why not separate the data into different segments when charting and have as many colors as you have data points? You might have to create a new legend and/or repeat the chart in "invisible ink", but it would be cleaner and more consistent when new or updated data becomes available.
While I think I agree that doing it "properly" via a second series is preferable, I don't necessarily agree that making the entirety of the "future" (data, gridlines, and even the axis) semi-transparent is "poor looking". I think it could be seen as adding more emphasis to the "future-ness" of the forecast data.
In short, it's another tool for the toolbox, even if it's never needed.
Simply and clever 🙂
Quick & effective, cool. thanks.
I always use the dummy series.
Nice little trick, thanks very much!
Two sets of data better. Control is much better.
You can use the same chart next month to see what is actual and what is forecast.
To use this trick, I think grid lines has to be removed, that will make the graphic much more sharp.
to be honest, i dont understand why there is needed to do this way... in this case horizontal lines will be pale as well. then why a just can't change the color of the line partly???
Great tutorial. Thanks for the tutorial!