topic Re: How to use a list of values from Excel cell in Csv.Document function? in Power Query

How to use a list of values from Excel cell in Csv.Document function?

Gaby_Scarcella — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:30:16 GMT

Hi all!

In order to parse fixed-width files with variable number of characters that marks the start of each column, I'd like to use a list of values stored in a cell in an Excel document. To do so, I retrieved the values from the cell and converted it in a list of values, like this:

ColumnsFromExcel = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name="ColumnasSeparadorasRCV"]}[Content]{0}[Column1],

#"ColumnsList (text)" = Text.Split(ColumnsFromExcel, ", "),

#"ColumnsList (num)" = List.Transform(#"ColumnsList (text)", each Number.FromText(_)),

When I try to use the resulting list from Excel cell, Csv.Document function returns just one column, however, if using a typed list of values, the function returns the expected number of columns. Both lists seems to be identical:

I couldn't find a solution for this so far. Any help would be appreciated!

Re: How to use a list of values from Excel cell in Csv.Document function?

AlexisOlson — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:56:38 GMT

When I try to use the resulting list from Excel cell, Csv.Document function returns just one column

I'm not following how exactly you're using the lists. Can you share the code for the step with the Csv function?

Re: How to use a list of values from Excel cell in Csv.Document function?

Gaby_Scarcella — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:12:01 GMT

Hi AlexisOlson.
Thanks for the fast reply.

I'm trying to use this code:
Source = Csv.Document(File.Contents(FilePath & FileName),null,"ColumnsList (num)", null,1252),

instead of:

Source = Csv.Document(File.Contents(FilePath & FileName),null,{0, 9, 28, 36, 40, 45, 55, 65, 71},null,1252),

Re: How to use a list of values from Excel cell in Csv.Document function?

AlexisOlson — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:30:27 GMT

Thanks. This makes it clear exactly what's going on.

In your first line, it's interpreting "ColumnsList (num)" as a literal string rather than a reference to a list. In order to disambiguate, try it with an octothorpe (#) in front.

Source = Csv.Document(File.Contents(FilePath & FileName),null,#"ColumnsList (num)",null,1252),

Re: How to use a list of values from Excel cell in Csv.Document function?

Gaby_Scarcella — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:51:34 GMT

That did the trick, thank you AlexisOlson for pointing the error in my code.

Really appreciate your help.