topic Re: Creating a hierarchy from indented column in Power Query

Creating a hierarchy from indented column

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 11:56:14 GMT

I have the following table:

It has a column that contains levels of indentation signifying a hierarchical relationship. I'd like to ask how this could be unwrapped into the following table please?

Perhaps this should be sorted out with the help of Python script? All help and tips are appreciated.

Thank you!

Re: Creating a hierarchy from indented column

Mariusz — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 11:39:02 GMT

Hi Anonymous

You can use power query to transform.

Please see the attached file.

Best Regards,
Mariusz

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Re: Creating a hierarchy from indented column

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 11:55:08 GMT

Apologies Mariusz , perhaps my example problem was too generic. I have updated my question to reflect the true scenario which i have where I believe your specific solution might not work.

Re: Creating a hierarchy from indented column

Mariusz — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:35:14 GMT

Hi Anonymous

Try this.

let Source = Table.FromRows(Json.Document(Binary.Decompress(Binary.FromText("i45WcgQCpVidaCUFJyCAsBScDUEAynE0AgEYxxgEIBxnICBaQywA", BinaryEncoding.Base64), Compression.Deflate)), let _t = ((type text) meta [Serialized.Text = true]) in type table [Block = _t]), #"Added Index" = Table.AddIndexColumn(Source, "Index", 0, 1), #"Added Custom" = Table.AddColumn(#"Added Index", "Level", each "Block Level " & Number.ToText( List.Count( List.Accumulate( Text.ToList( [Block] ), {" "}, ( s,a ) => if a = List.Last(s) then s & {a} else s ) ) - 1 ) ), #"Trimmed Text" = Table.TransformColumns(#"Added Custom",{{"Block", Text.Trim, type text}}), #"Pivoted Column" = Table.Pivot(#"Trimmed Text", List.Distinct(#"Trimmed Text"[Level]), "Level", "Block"), #"Filled Down" = Table.FillDown(#"Pivoted Column",{"Block Level 0", "Block Level 1"}), #"Filtered Rows" = Table.SelectRows(#"Filled Down", each ([Block Level 2] <> null)) in #"Filtered Rows"

Best Regards,
Mariusz

If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution.

Please feel free to connect with me.
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Re: Creating a hierarchy from indented column

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 10:10:45 GMT

Thank you very much for your help so far Mariusz! Your solution is very close however I can't seem to sort out the final format which currently is this:

I think it may be due to different indentation levels between your source data and mine?

Re: Creating a hierarchy from indented column

Miralon — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 17:22:43 GMT

Mariusz's solution helped me to start digging into M functions.

I think I'll replace #"Added Custom" step with the next one, as you have to calculate level by number of leading spaces.

Is just my first try into M functions, hope this will help.

#"Added Custom" = Table.AddColumn(#"Added Index", "Level"
, each "Block Level " & Number.ToText(Text.Length([Block])-Text.Length(Text.TrimStart([Block])))),