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Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

Power Query lets you perform a series of steps to clean & transform your Excel data. There... read more

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Bryan
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Overview

Power Query lets you perform a series of steps to clean & transform your Excel data.

There are times when we want to do things that are not built in the user interface.  This is possible with Power Query’s programming language, which is M.

One of the unique characteristics of M is it takes data types very seriously.

For example, if we try to concatenate or combine a text with a number, it will result in an error.  So let us take a look what are our options for data type conversions in M.

Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query | MyExcelOnline

download excel workbook Data-Type-Conversions-with-M-.xlsx

 

Let’s go through the steps in detail:

STEP 1: Select your data and turn it into an Excel Table by pressing the shortcut Ctrl + T or by going to Insert > Table

Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

 

STEP 2: Go to Data > Get & Transform > From Table (Excel 2016) or Power Query > Excel Data > From Table (Excel 2013 & 2010)

Excel 2016:

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 Merge Columns Using Power Query

Excel 2013 & 2010:

from table

 

STEP 3: This will open up the Power Query Editor.

Go to Add Column > Add Custom Column

We want to combine the Financial Year (Number) and Sales Qtr (Text):

Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

 

STEP 4: Let us create a simple M expression to combine the Financial Year and the Sales Quarter.

In the New column name text box, type Financial Quarter

In the Custom column formula, type in: Text.From([FINANCIAL YEAR])&” “&[SALES QTR]

The main point here is we are doing the following steps:

  • We are using the Text.From formula to convert the Financial Year into Text
  • Since Financial Year and Sales Qtr are now both texts, we can combine them together.
  • We can now use the Ampersand (&) to join them together.

Click OK.

Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

Now you will see your changes take place.

Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

 

STEP 5: Click Close & Load from the Home tab and this will open up a brand new worksheet in your Excel workbook with the updated values.

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Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

Congratulations! You have used a M formula for data conversions!

Data Type Conversions with M in Power Query

There are a lot more data conversion formulas you could use:

  • Date.FromText() – Converts text dates into the date data type
    • ex. Date.FromText(“Jan 12, 2017”)
  • Time.FromText() – Converts text times into the time data type:
    • ex. Time.FromText(“6:55 AM”)
  • Number.FromText() – Converts text numbers into the decimal data type:
    • ex. Number.FromText(“123.34”)
  • Currency.From() – Converts values into the currency data type:
    • ex. Currency.From(500.15)

 

 

VLOOKUP Example: Vlookup with a Drop Down List

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