Power BI Data Modeling Flashcards
6 cards from real Microsoft Power BI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Power BI Data Modeling flashcards as text
What does 'Vertipaq' refer to in the context of Power BI?
Answer: The in-memory columnar database engine that stores Power BI datasets
Vertipaq is the in-memory columnar storage engine used by Power BI (and Analysis Services) to store and query data efficiently.
In Power BI, what is 'Import mode' for a dataset?
Answer: Data is copied and stored inside the Power BI dataset in memory
In Import mode, data is extracted from the source and stored within the Power BI dataset's Vertipaq engine for fast in-memory querying.
What is 'DirectQuery' mode in Power BI and what is its main trade-off?
Answer: Queries the data source directly at report time; trade-off is typically slower query performance
DirectQuery sends queries to the data source in real time, but performance depends on the source system's speed and query volume.
In Power BI modeling, what is a 'role-playing dimension'?
Answer: A single dimension table used multiple times in a model via inactive relationships
A role-playing dimension is one physical table (like a Date table) referenced multiple times by a fact table through multiple relationships, each serving a different analytical role.
Which DAX function is used to activate an inactive relationship in a measure calculation?
Answer: USERELATIONSHIP()
USERELATIONSHIP() is used inside a DAX measure to activate a specific inactive relationship for the duration of that calculation.
What is the main benefit of using a 'Composite model' in Power BI?
Answer: It allows combining Import and DirectQuery tables in the same model
Composite models allow you to mix Import mode tables (for fast performance) with DirectQuery tables (for real-time data) within the same Power BI model.