Summary  
This chapter covers configuring and activating an in-memory relational data model to load multiple tables and establish relationships for later DAX queries.  

General domain of usage  
Business intelligence

**Power Pivot** is a built-in Excel add-in that extends the standard spreadsheet with a proper relational data engine. It allows you to load multiple tables into a shared in-memory model, define relationships between them, and write DAX formulas that operate across the entire model — not just a single sheet.

Power Pivot does not change how your Excel sheets look. It runs as a separate layer — an engine underneath — that pivot tables and DAX measures tap into when they calculate.

Note

Power Pivot is not available in every edition of Excel. Check your version before proceeding.

To confirm your version: go to **File → Account → About Excel**. The edition name appears at the top of the dialog.

Power Pivot ships with compatible Excel versions but is turned off by default. Enable it through the COM Add-ins manager:
1. Go to **File → Options** to open Excel Options;
2. Select **Add-ins** from the left-hand menu;
3. At the bottom, change the Manage dropdown to **COM Add-ins** and click **Go**;
4. Check the box next to
**Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel** and click **OK**;
5. A new **Power Pivot** tab appears in the ribbon — click
**Manage** to open the Power Pivot window.

### Verifying the Data Model is Active
A quick way to confirm the data model is live is to create a test pivot table. Select any cell in a prepared table, go to Insert → PivotTable, and look for the checkbox labelled "**Add this data to the data model**". If that option is visible and ticked, the data model is active and the table is being loaded into it.
## Task

Excel Workbook

**Step 1 — Open the starter workbook**

Open `S3_workbook.xlsx`. This is the project workbook you will use throughout this section. 

You will see four sheets — **Customers, Products, Dates**, and **Sales**. Each one contains a formatted Excel Table with clean data. Do not modify any of the data at this stage.

**Step 2 — Enable Power Pivot**

1. Go to **File → Options → Add-ins**. 
2. At the bottom of the dialog, set the Manage dropdown to **COM Add-ins** and click **Go**. 
3. In the COM Add-ins dialog, tick the box next to **Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel** and click **OK**. 

**Step 3 — Confirm the tab is visible** 

Return to the main Excel window. Check the ribbon — you should now see a **Power Pivot** tab between the View and Help tabs. 

If the tab is already visible before you follow the steps above, Power Pivot was already enabled on your machine. No further action is needed. 

Learn how to turn raw Excel data into a connected data model with Power Pivot, DAX measures, and an interactive dashboard that updates automatically. Starting from a flat table, you will build relationships between multiple tables, write calculated metrics, and deliver a polished, reusable report — all inside Excel.
Suitable for Excel users with basic experience who want to move beyond flat-sheet reporting.

An introduction to what data modeling is, why it matters, and what you will build throughout the course. You will meet the Nordic Bikes project and see the finished dashboard before writing a single formula.

Before building a model, your data needs the right structure. This section covers how to split flat data into clean, purpose-built tables with proper keys, consistent formatting, and clear separation between facts and dimensions.

The core technical section of the course. You will enable Power Pivot, load your tables into the data model, connect them with relationships, and learn how to spot and fix the problems that break a model silently.

Learn to write calculations that go far beyond what Excel formulas can do alone. From basic KPI measures to time intelligence functions, this section builds the analytical layer that powers your reporting.

Turn your model into a finished product. You will build pivot tables that answer real business questions, convert them into charts, and assemble everything into an interactive dashboard controlled by shared slicers.

A structured review of what makes a model reliable, clear, and ready to hand over. The section closes with a capstone project where you apply every skill from the course end to end.

Getting Started with Power Pivot

Verifying the Data Model is Active

Task