Data Analysis with Pivot Tables and Charts

Abstract

Once you have the data model created in Power Pivot, you need to create an interface for users to interact with the data model and perform data analysis using the model. You can use several programs to interface with the model depending on the type of analysis taking place; these include Power View, Power Map, Performance Point, and Reporting Services. Although all these tools are viable clients to use, one of the best client tools is Excel itself. Excel is a feature-rich environment for creating dashboards using pivot tables and pivot charts. Furthermore, it is very easy to share Excel files with colleagues or host the Excel workbook on SharePoint for increased performance and security. This chapter covers the basics of building an interface for analyzing the data contained in a Power Pivot model using pivot tables and pivot charts in Excel.