Excel Power Query for Data Transformation: Turn Raw Data into Reliable Insight
Getting Started with Power Query in Excel
On the Data tab, use Get Data to connect to files, folders, databases, or web sources. Once a preview loads, launch the Power Query Editor. This is your safe staging area, where every action is recorded as a step you can undo, reorder, or reuse.
Shaping Data: Essential Transformations You Will Use Daily
Use Split Column to separate codes and descriptions, Trim and Clean to fix spaces and non-printing characters, and Replace Values to standardize variants. These small, reliable steps prevent formula nightmares later. Tell us your worst whitespace story; we have all been there.
Shaping Data: Essential Transformations You Will Use Daily
Unpivot converts month headers into rows, creating a tidy layout perfect for charts and analysis. Pivot reverses the process for reporting. During a finance project, a single Unpivot turned a 12-sheet workbook into a single source of truth. Try it and comment with your results.
Shaping Data: Essential Transformations You Will Use Daily
Use Group By to aggregate totals, averages, and counts by category, region, or period. Add multiple aggregations at once and keep original rows in a reference query. This keeps your calculations consistent across refreshes. Share a screenshot of your favorite Group By outcome.
Data Types, Column Profiling, and Quality Checks
Assign the Right Data Types Early
Set data types for dates, numbers, and text immediately after promoting headers. Types determine sorting, summaries, and merges. Wrong types cause sneaky errors, especially with leading zeros or dates. What field bites you most? Drop a line and we will propose a fix.
Profile Columns to Spot Outliers
Turn on Column Quality and Column Distribution to visualize errors, empty values, and distinct counts. This quick scan reveals anomalies fast. During an inventory audit, a simple profile exposed mislabeled units. Try profiling and share the oddest outlier you discovered.
Locale and Date Pitfalls
Dates can flip when files cross regions. Use locale-aware type conversion and consistent date formats to avoid silent mistakes. Keep a short reference table of known exceptions. Want a locale checklist for imports? Subscribe and we will send a practical, printable version.
Advanced Editor and the M Language, Made Approachable
Open Advanced Editor to see your steps as M. Rename steps, parameterize file paths, and comment your logic. Change one thing at a time and refresh to test. Share a snippet you want reviewed, and our readers will offer friendly feedback and improvements.
Refresh, Load Options, and the Excel Data Model
Choose to load a query into a worksheet table, create a connection only for downstream merges, or load to the Data Model for pivot tables without worksheet clutter. Share how you structure outputs, and we will suggest a tidy, scalable layout.
Refresh, Load Options, and the Excel Data Model
Use Refresh All, background refresh, and refresh on file open. Keep source paths stable, and document assumptions in a cover sheet. For shared workbooks, test on a colleague’s computer to confirm credentials. What is your biggest refresh blocker? Tell us and we will help.
