Data modelling techniques in M language

Training process

Training needs analysis

If you have specific requirements regarding the training programme, we will carry out a training needs analysis for you. This will guide us on which aspects of the programme should receive greater emphasis, so that the training programme meets your specific needs.

What will you gain?

Write M queries yourself - You will learn how to build and modify M queries from scratch, so you can design data transformation logic in Power BI on your own instead of guessing the next step in the process.

Confident editor workflow - You will become comfortable in both the standard editor and Advanced Editor, making it easier to change code, improve query structure, and quickly identify the source of an issue.

Stronger data modeling - You will understand values and types in M, which will help you prepare columns, dates, records, and lists correctly and avoid errors caused by mismatched data types.

Efficient table transformations - You will learn how to build, merge, sort, and transform tables, allowing you to prepare data for analysis faster and in a more structured way before report modeling begins.

Smarter use of parameters - You will learn how to use table parameters and comparison, sorting, and missing-column criteria, so you can create more flexible queries and adapt them more easily to changing data.

Reliable error handling - You will explore how errors are raised and handled in M, so you can protect queries from failures and diagnose problems in records and let expressions much more efficiently.

Practical ETL in Power BI - You will see how to use M for ETL automation and integration with Power BI tools, helping you reduce manual work and standardize how data is prepared for reporting.

Advanced techniques and performance - You will learn to create custom functions, parameterize and dynamically generate queries, and optimize M code so your solutions become faster, cleaner, and easier to maintain.

Training programme

1. Introduction to the M language

what the M language is and what it can be used for in Power BI,
creating simple queries in the dedicated editor,
modifying queries,
how to make changes in M language code,
rules that must be followed in the M language,
properties of special characters and the structure of M language code,
editing a blank query.

2. Values in the M language

null,
logical values,
numbers,
times,
dates,
date/time,
date/time/time zone,
duration,
text,
binary values,
list value,
record value.

3. Types

hierarchy of types in the M language,
primitive types (classification of primitive value and abstract types),
record types,
list types,
function types,
table types,
types permitting null values.

4. Table functions in M language

constructing tables,
conversions,
information in tables,
operations on rows,
operations on columns,
multiplication of tables,
joining tables,
table parameters in M language,
transformations,
membership checking parameters,
ordering data in M language.

5. Values of table parameters in the M language

assigning names to output columns,
comparison criterion,
number or condition criterion,
handling additional values,
handling missing columns,
setting the sort order,
equality criterion.

6. Advanced editor

7. Error handling – evaluating an expression in the M language

error raising procedure,
expression used for error handling,
possible errors in records and let initializers,
not implemented error.

8. Practical application of the M language in Power BI

creating and editing reports using the M language,
automation of ETL processes using the M language,
integration of the M language with other Power BI tools.

9. Advanced techniques in the M language

creating user-defined functions,
parameterization of queries,
dynamic generation of queries,
optimization of M code performance.

10. Training summary

What are the prerequisites for participating in the training?

Power BI basics - You should be comfortable navigating Power BI and understand what queries do and how data preparation works, so you can focus on M rather than on learning the tool itself.

Working with tabular data - You should know the basic concepts of tables, columns, rows, and data types, so you can easily understand merging, sorting, and transforming data during the training.

Analytical thinking - You should be able to analyze relationships in data and follow processing steps logically, because the training includes building queries and solving issues in code.

Readiness to work with code - You should be ready to read and edit simple code snippets, because the training covers manual query changes, M syntax, and hands-on work in the Advanced Editor.