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Microsoft Fabric New Features

by Mandy Doward - 25/11/2024

November 2024 Microsoft Fabric Preview Highlights

Microsoft Fabric is continually evolving and transitioning from  a data analytics platform to a fully integrated data platform.

At the time of writing - November 24th 2024 - there are 55 features in preview!

I have highlighted 3 preview features that everyone should know about:

  • Azure Data Factory item - Connect to an existing Azure Data Factory from a Fabric workspace.
  • Fabric SQL database  - transactional database in Fabric based on Azure SQL Database
  • varchar(max) and varbinary(max) support - support for these data types in Fabric Warehouse

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PTR 35 Years Working With Data

by Mandy Doward - 25/11/2024

Happy 35th Birthday PTR!

Here at PTR HQ we recently came together from all four corners of the country to celebrate the company's 35th birthday. It was a joy to hear all the chit chat going on and see smiles on everyone's faces and a real treat to have face to face conversation rather than a Teams call.

Our journey started with data in 1989 and our passion for all things data just grew and grew, you could say data is in our blood!  Which is of course quite literally the case, since we are a family business led by myself and my brother, Ian Roberts, and started by my father, Peter Roberts, with the aim of helping companies transport, access and make sense of the growing amount of data that was emerging.

 
 

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Data Platform Review

by Mandy Doward - 6/6/2024

Your Data Platform Review

If you want to get more value from your data but don't know where to start, you're not alone. According to Lenovo, 85% of organisations are not fully leveraging their data even though 80% of their leaders say data is critical to the decisions they want to make.

If you are stuck, like so many others in your situation then it’s time to take the first steps and what better way to begin than with a helping hand? Our targeted data platform review gives you an overview of what you have and a roadmap to help you reach your goals – which puts you way ahead of the crowd.
 

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5 Reasons why Microsoft Fabric is a game-changer for analytics

by Ian Roberts - 9/5/2024

5 Reasons Why Microsoft Fabric is a Game-Changer for Analytics

Did we tell you? There’s a new data platform in town and it’s called Microsoft Fabric! In this product Microsoft have brought together all the best capabilities of Azure Synapse, Azure Data Factory, and Power BI into a single, unified, cloud-based experience – empowering businesses to efficiently manage, analyze, and derive valuable insights from their data. They tell us it’s going to be a game-changer!

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Microsoft Power BI: Report Design Ideas and Tips

by - 16/4/2024

Power BI Report Design Ideas

Do you wonder how to get ideas for your report design – want to get great looking reports every time? Here are some tricks to make your life easier so you can build stylish and professional reports in Microsoft Power BI to impress your colleagues and stakeholders. So let’s get started with our Microsoft Power BI report design ideas and tips.

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Microsoft Power BI: How to - use the forecasting feature in Power BI

by - 16/4/2024

Using the Forecasting Feature in Power BI

The forecasting feature in Power BI uses machine learning algorithms to predict future values based on historical data. This helps businesses to make informed decisions, plan for future trends, and adjust strategies, leading to increased efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

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Microsoft Power BI: How to - Pivot and Unpivot Columns

by - 16/4/2024

Pivot and Unpivot Columns in Power BI

PTR is proud to provide Microsoft Power BI consultancy services to help you and your business get the most from your data but when only a quick answer will do, here is the latest in our series of bite-sized “How to” guides for Power BI, looking at the pivot functionality within Power BI.

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Learn Python: The #1 choice to automate tasks, build websites and analyse data.

by Mandy Doward - 16/4/2024

Have you noticed how popular Python is right now?

Since being named Programming Language of the Year in 2021, Python has grown in popularity, with an estimated 15.7 million active developers across the globe last year.

Its creator, Guido van Rossum wanted developers to have access to a language that was simple, beautiful and easy to learn. With this emphasis on a language which is clear, concise, and versatile millions of users have fallen for its code readability and simplicity.

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Microsoft Power BI: How to - Sorting your data by name of the month

by - 16/4/2024

Sorting your data by name of the month in Power BI

In the fast-paced digital landscape of today's business world, harnessing the potential of cloud computing has become a strategic imperative. Microsoft Azure, is a leading cloud platform which stands out as a powerful tool to allow businesses to innovate, scale, and thrive. In this beginner's guide, we'll demystify Azure, explore who can benefit from it, why they should choose it, and shed light on its practical applications in simple business terms.

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How Upgrading to Microsoft Fabric takes Power BI to the next level.

by Mandy Doward - 5/3/2024

Unleashing the Power of Data

Power BI is the leading data analytics solution on the market for businesses of all sizes today. By converting raw data into compelling visualizations and interactive reports, stakeholders can grasp data stories quickly and make informed decisions on action. Building on this success, Microsoft has now unveiled Fabric, a single comprehensive platform that integrates data and analytics tools across the entire data lifecycle. What’s more an AI Copilot within Power BI now helps users create more effective and efficient reports along with automated insights.

What does that mean for Microsoft customers already using Power BI alongside an Azure data warehouse?

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