Column name doesn’t update in subsequent Power Query steps

[olander]

Hello,

I’ve written a many-step query, and now I want to rename a column from an early step. When I do, any subsequent steps that reference this column break. I’m surprised that it doesn’t update the name everywhere it is used after the change. Is there a quick way to "Find and Replace All" instances of a column name? Right now I’m copy-pasting to a notepad, performing the replacement, then copy-pasting the M code back into the Advanced Editor. Not a big deal, it just seems extra.

Thanks, JO

[Anonymous]

Hi @olander ,

Please try to get the column names firstly, then by the index to get the name and use the name in the next M function.

For more details, you can read related document: Table.ColumnNames - PowerQuery M | Microsoft Learn

Best regards,
Community Support Team_Binbin Yu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[olander]

That doesn’t qualify as a "quick way to 'Find and Replace All'." So you are saying that no such functionality exists in Power Query for updating string literal column names quickly?

[Anonymous]

Hi @olander ,

Please try Table.RenameColumns().

For more details, you can read related document: Table.RenameColumns - PowerQuery M | Microsoft Learn

Best regards,
Community Support Team_Binbin Yu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[olander]

Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately, you are still not answering my question. Table.RenameColumns is only guaranteed not to break a query if it is used before adding any additional steps.

In my case, I have a query with multiple steps, and I would like to go to an early step (say where I created a column) and rename a column. The column I wish to rename is referenced several times in subsequent steps. When I rename the column, those steps break. They are still using the old name. How can I repair those steps while keeping the earlier column name change?

Thank you