Forum Discussion
Column Type Data Type clarification in Power Query
I'm trying to figure out what data types are available for the Column Type field, and I've yet to come across anything in the documententation that helps with my question. I'm trying to add a column, and I want to specify the column type to always come back as an integer, rather than a decimal number. However, by default the column type comes back as "number". Is there a way to figure out what are valid options for that field, as Int64 and variations on how to spell or call it don't seem to be accepted.
For reference, I'm looking at https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt260727.aspx which mentions optional column type but provides no links to what those might be.
Ahhh, in that case, add this to the end of the code in the Advanced Editor for that step:
, Int64.Type
other common types you'll use are:
"type text"
"type date"
"type datetime"
"type number"
Currency.Type
Percentage.Type
An easy way to see what the exact M code is to create a temporary step that changes the data type. Then you'll see in the Advanced Editor exactly how M writes it (type number vs. Int64.Type...never figured out why). Then you can simply use that same spelling as the 3rd parameter of Table.AddColumn().
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Ahhh, in that case, add this to the end of the code in the Advanced Editor for that step:
, Int64.Type
other common types you'll use are:
"type text"
"type date"
"type datetime"
"type number"
Currency.Type
Percentage.Type
An easy way to see what the exact M code is to create a temporary step that changes the data type. Then you'll see in the Advanced Editor exactly how M writes it (type number vs. Int64.Type...never figured out why). Then you can simply use that same spelling as the 3rd parameter of Table.AddColumn().