Get started with Power Query in Power BI with Greg Trzeciak. Learn to load data, set types, clean and split columns, profile and fix issues, merge and append sources, organize queries, and validate results.
In Power Query for Beginners, Greg Trzeciak teaches you how to clean, shape, and prepare data the right way before it ever reaches your reports. Power Query is where most Power BI success is won or lost, and this course gives you a beginner-friendly, step-by-step path through the editor so you can confidently load messy data and turn it into something reliable. You’ll learn what Power Query is, how it fits into Power BI (and Excel), and the core transformation habits that make datasets easier to model and report on.
You’ll work through practical transformations like setting data types, renaming and removing columns, cleaning and splitting values, sorting, and combining multiple sources. Greg also covers quality tools like data profiling, spotting issues early, understanding query dependencies, and organizing queries so projects stay maintainable. By the end, you’ll have a repeatable workflow for loading, transforming, and validating data so your reports start with clean, trustworthy inputs.
Course Outline ( Free Preview)
Module 01 - Introduction
Greg introduces Power Query as the foundation of clean, trustworthy reporting and explains what you’ll learn in this beginner course. You’ll get a quick roadmap of the workflow, loading data, transforming it, checking quality, and validating results, so each step feels connected and purposeful.
Module 02 - What is the Power Query Editor?
Learn what the Power Query Editor is and why it exists, a dedicated environment for transforming data before it hits your model. Greg explains how Power Query records steps, why that matters for repeatability, and how to think in “transformations” rather than manual edits.
Module 03 - Loading in Data16 min.
Start by bringing data into Power Query from common sources. Greg walks through the basic import experience and what to look for as data comes in, headers, column names, and early signs of formatting problems you’ll want to fix right away.
Module 04 - Power Query Interface Tool14 min.
Get comfortable in the Power Query interface so you can move quickly and confidently. Greg tours the main menus, Applied Steps, Query Settings, and key transformation tools, helping you understand where to click and why it matters.
Module 05 - Data Types10 min.
Data types are one of the most important early decisions in Power Query. Greg shows how to set the correct types, why type mismatches break visuals and calculations, and how to catch errors when Power Query can’t interpret a column cleanly.
Module 06 - Remove and Rename8 min.
Learn how to remove unnecessary columns and rename fields for clarity and consistency. Greg explains why naming conventions matter for long-term maintainability and how simplifying your dataset early makes modeling and reporting far easier later.
Module 07 - Cleanup7 min.
This module focuses on common cleanup tasks that turn messy data into usable data. You’ll learn how to handle blanks, trim extra spaces, replace values, and standardize inconsistencies so your dataset behaves predictably in the model.
Module 08 - Splitting8 min.
Learn how to split columns to separate combined values like “City, State” or “First Last” into usable fields. Greg shows common split patterns and how splitting supports better filtering, grouping, and overall report usability.
Module 09 - Reorder4 min.
Reordering columns doesn’t change the data, but it makes it easier to work with and understand. Greg shows how to reorder fields logically and explains why thoughtful column organization helps both report developers and downstream consumers.
Module 10 - Data Profile9 min.
Use Power Query’s data profiling tools to understand what’s in your columns. Greg demonstrates column quality, column distribution, and column profile views, and explains how these tools help you detect problems before they cause broken reports.
Module 11 - Identifying Issues10 min.
Learn how to spot issues like errors, unexpected nulls, inconsistent values, and outliers. Greg walks through the most common problem patterns and how to investigate root causes, so you can fix issues at the source instead of patching symptoms later.
Module 12 - Sorting Data8 min.
Sorting helps you analyze and validate your data during transformation. Greg shows how sorting can reveal duplicates, odd patterns, and value inconsistencies, and discusses when sorting is helpful for review versus when it’s unnecessary in the final load.
Module 13 - Combine and Append8 min.
Learn how to append data, stacking tables with the same structure into one dataset. Greg explains when append is the right choice, common schema mismatch issues, and best practices for combining recurring files or time-based exports.
Module 14 - Merge8 min.
Merging is how you join tables together in Power Query. Greg walks through merge types, matching keys, and validating results so your joins don’t silently drop rows or create unexpected duplicates. You’ll learn how to choose merge strategy that supports accurate reporting.
Module 15 - Organize Queries3 min.
As projects grow, organization matters. Greg shows how to rename queries, group them into folders, and structure your work so it stays understandable and maintainable over time, especially when multiple people collaborate.
Module 16 - Query Dependencies6 min.
Understand how queries rely on each other using the dependency view. Greg explains why dependencies matter for troubleshooting, performance, and avoiding accidental breakage. You’ll learn how to read the dependency graph and use it to keep transformations clean.
Module 17 - Loading Data2 min.
Move from transformation into loading. Greg explains what “load” means, where data goes, and how to control load settings so you don’t bloat your model with unnecessary tables. You’ll learn how to choose what loads and what stays as a helper query.
Module 18 - Validating Results9 min.
Before you build visuals, you should validate your output. Greg shows how to check row counts, spot-check key columns, and confirm merges/appends worked correctly. This module helps you build confidence that your transformed data matches expectations.
Module 19 - Conclusion2 min.
Wrap up with a recap of the Power Query workflow you’ve learned, load, transform, profile, fix, and validate. Greg summarizes the highest-impact habits from the course and shares next-step ideas so you can keep improving your data prep skills in real projects.
Gregory Trzeciak has his master’s degree in Education from the University of Florida. He has 9 years of teaching experience in high school, college level, and summer programs where he was recognized as a top educator and leader in interactive education. As a trainer at Pragmatic Works, his primary goal is to help individuals gain confidence in using Power BI and the Power Platform. While not in the office, he enjoys fantasy football, walking his dog, and running half-marathons!
