Description Column with Text and Numbers

[Anonymous]

I have a "description" column in PowerBI that I use within a PowerBI table.   When I attempt to refresh the report, I continue to get an error about this particular table.   After further checking, I see the error ties back to a column within this table; it has multiple data types in the Description column.   The first character of the Description may start with a # or may start with text; afterall it is a free-form fillin description field.  Since I am not using this column in a calculation, and I only want to display this information, how can I get around this issue?

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous I think by default power query is changing the data type of this column to number, on change type step, change the data type to text and it will work.

[smpa01]

@AnonymousCan you try to create a Custom Column as following and then delete the original column and use the custom column for your report.

try Text.From([MixDataColumn]) otherwise "-999"

 try is M's IFERROR equivalent.

[Anonymous]

I've tried every combination and still I am unsuccessful at using this statement.   I am using the column name that contains the mixed data type.   

Text.From([WARRANTY_CODE]) otherwise "-999"

 It returns, "To use special characters in a column name, enclose the entire name in brackets.

Warranty Code is the column containing both text and #'s.

Any add'l help is greatly appreciated.    Thanks.

[smpa01]

@Anonymouscan you please post the sample data here.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sozwslmq8q4ksbv/RecurringCodes.xlsx?dl=0

Here is the file.   The first column is the one that contains text and #'s.    

Thanks.

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous I think by default power query is changing the data type of this column to number, on change type step, change the data type to text and it will work.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

That worked.   Thank you!