Hint for new users - Importing Excel data in table format

[Anonymous]

Here is something I just learned that may benefit other new users like me.

Specifically:

• When importing Excel data that has been formatted as a Table, be sure to delete columns that have no data in them
• I noticed this today when trying to import a relatively small Excel file
• Because I had formatted the data in a Table, Excel automatically created column headers for hundreds of extra columns
• These extra columns had no data in them, just auto-generated column headers
• Once I deleted the the extra columns, the Excel file loaded with no problem

Hope this helps some of you.

[v-jiascu-msft]

Hi @Anonymous,

Could you please mark the proper answers as solutions?

Best Regards,

Dale

[edhans]

You should never have blank columns in your data. Too often people do it to visually format it, but you should do that with column widths, not blank columns. Even if you never touch Power Query or Power Pivot, the basic Tables feature doesn't work well with blank columns.

Don't get me started on merged cells! 

[MFelix · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

If on Excel you make you information as table and then select the table instead of the worksheet this will not add the addtional columns you are refering.

Be aware that when you upload an Excel file to PBI there are two icons one for pages other for tables.

Regards,

MFelix