Peter Nicholson - Peter Nicholson (Page 2)

1 Nov 2023 · 3 min read

Using a pie chart? Boooo!

Pie charts are one of the most widely recognised and frequently used chart types in data visualisation. Despite their popularity, many experts have criticised the use of pie charts, arguing that they are ineffective in communicating information.

Power BI

29 Sep 2023 · 4 min read

Why Power BI Project files are an important step forward for Microsoft

Power BI: Version control for your files. Collaborate, experiment, and track changes with ease. With Power BI’s new file format, you can easily keep track of every modification made to your files, including who made the change and when.

24 Sep 2023 · 5 min read

My Top 10 Power BI 'Best Practice' Tips

Are you looking to get the most out of Power BI? There are a number of steps you can take to ensure success with Power BI. To help you on your journey, I've compiled some of my top tips for getting the most out of this powerful business intelligence tool.

12 Sep 2023 · 5 min read

The Importance of a Date Table in your Data Model

To maximise data analysis capabilities in Power BI, consider creating a dedicated date table in your data model. While Power BI's built-in features are convenient, they have limitations. A separate date table offers flexibility for custom scenarios and deeper insights.

3 Sep 2023 · 1 min read

AZQR: Azure Quick Review

Meet Azure Quick Review (azqr): a tool that scans Azure resources, provides detailed Excel reports, and helps you optimize your setup. Install it on Linux, Mac, or Windows. Simple authentication with Azure CLI or Service Principal. Scan your resources easily.

21 Mar 2023 · 5 min read

An Introduction to DAX

Behind the scenes of Power BI lies a language called Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), which is used to manipulate data within the application. In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into DAX and explore how it can help you make better business decisions.

19 Mar 2023 · 3 min read

Jet Reports 101 - Other Features of =NL(Lookup)

We all know that the =NL (Lookup) function is used to pull a list of values from a database, but there's a few features of it that are probably not as often used. Let's take a look.

8 Mar 2023 · 3 min read

Dividing Customers into Four Quartiles Based on Total Revenue Using SQL and AdventureWorksDW2019

Analysing customer revenue is a critical aspect of understanding the performance of any business. In this blog post, we will explore how to use SQL and the AdventureWorksDW2019 database to group customers into four quartiles based on their total revenue.

4 Mar 2023 · 2 min read

Mastering Window Functions: How to Calculate a Moving Average in SQL

Learn how to analyse sales trends with a moving average calculation in SQL. This powerful tool can help you identify growth opportunities and improve business performance.

3 Mar 2023 · 5 min read

Building a Scalable Data Pipeline: Extracting Sales Data from Navision to Snowflake

In this blog post, we will learn how to extract sales data using SQL from a database, specifically Navision. We will define a SQL query to extract the data and execute it using Python. The resulting sales data will be fetched and can be further analyzed or visualized.

30 Jan 2023 · 4 min read

Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) of UK Museums

It's been a while since I last posted a small EDA article in my learning journey of Python so I've dusted off VS Code and found a dataset on UK Museums.

20 Jan 2023 · 3 min read

Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams

In this article, we'll be exploring best practices for managing remote teams, including tips for maintaining clear communication, and building strong relationships with remote employees. Hopefully you can get something useful out of this article.

5 Jan 2023 · 5 min read

Setting up for the year ahead (2023)

The start of a new year is a great time to set personal goals and make positive changes in your life. Whether you want to get in shape, save money, or learn a new skill, having a plan can help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

4 Jan 2023 · 2 min read

Report or Dashboard?

As a data analyst, you know the value of presenting your findings in a clear and effective way. But when it comes to choosing between a report and a dashboard, which one is the right fit for your needs?

30 Dec 2022 · 2 min read

Leaders Eat Last - Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek's book "Leaders Eat Last" explores the idea that great leaders put the needs of their team ahead of their own, and create a culture of trust and cooperation within their organisation.

28 Dec 2022 · 2 min read

Best Practices For Visualising Data

In this post, we'll delve into these best practices and provide tips on how to create visualisations that are both informative and easy to interpret.

26 Dec 2022 · 3 min read

Show Your Work! The Importance Of Showing Your Creative Process

In his book "Show Your Work!," author Austin Kleon encourages readers to share their creative process with the world.

24 Dec 2022 · 2 min read

How To Build An IT Department When You Don't Have One

Building an IT department from scratch can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and execution, it is possible to create a successful and effective team.