Deleting Data from Excel Source & Refreshing in Power BI - Causes Errors - Why?

[car16]

Does anyone know if it's possible to delete columns of data from the excel source file (that I have uploaded into Power BI) after the fact?  I have several columns that are not needed, but when I delete them from excel and refresh Power BI and error occurrs saying "the data is missing".  If I delete the same columns from the Power BI file (through edit queries) I still receive the same error.

Thoughts?

[v-yulgu-msft]

Hi @car16,

If you directly delete the column in source file, the update won't be applied to Power Query automatically when you refresh dataset, Power Query will prompt "Connot find column" error. To resolve this error, please delete the corresponding column in Power Query, either. In below example, I delete column [Financial_Year].

Best regards,

Yuliana Gu

[Vvelarde · Accepted solution]

@car16

Hi, this a common error.

Go to Edit Query and find the Changed Type Step . Review it and delete the columns that you desire. (the same that you erase in the source)

Regards

Victor

[car16]

@Vvelarde

Thank You!  Easy fix, just something I was not aware of in Power BI (we are just starting to use this more heavily at my company, so learning as I go).  Appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

I wish it worked for me.

It never does. 

I end up having to redo all my tables.