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cpinho's avatar
cpinho
Icon for Advocate I rankAdvocate I
9 years ago
Solved

How to expand all nested tables at once table.expandtablecolumn

Hi guys,

 

I've an issue, when working with getting data from web (html) it is common to have a source with hundred or more nested tables. How can i expand it all at once?

 

I've seen a code from Chris for PowerQuery, but i was unable to use it in Power BI.

 

Glad you can assist.

 

Best

Carlos

  • The code below expands all nested tables from this webpage (as an example) as requested, but I'm note sure if the result makes much sense.
    It includes an embedded recursive function fnCombineAll.

    Possibly some further refinement would be required, but at least we have a start.

    let
        Source = Web.Page(Web.Contents("https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/How-to-expand-all-nested-tables-at-once-table-expandtablecolumn/m-p/129451#U129451")),
        Data0 = Source{0}[Data],
        ChildrenWithTable = Table.SelectRows(Data0, each [Children] is table),
    
        fnCombineAll = (TableSoFar as table, newChildren as table) as table =>
        let
            Combined = Table.Buffer(Table.Combine(List.Union({{TableSoFar},newChildren[Children]}))),
            ChildrensChildrenWithTable = Table.AddColumn(newChildren, "ChildrensChildren", each Table.SelectRows([Children], each [Children] is table)),
            ChildrensChildrenCombined = Table.Combine(ChildrensChildrenWithTable[ChildrensChildren]),
            CombinedAll = if Table.RowCount(ChildrensChildrenCombined) = 0 then Combined else @fnCombineAll(Combined, ChildrensChildrenCombined) 
        in
            CombinedAll,
    
    
        CombinedAll = if Table.RowCount(ChildrenWithTable) = 0 then Data0 else fnCombineAll(Data0, ChildrenWithTable),
        #"Added Index" = Table.AddIndexColumn(CombinedAll, "Index", 1, 1),
        #"Reordered Columns" = Table.ReorderColumns(#"Added Index",{"Index", "Kind", "Name", "Children", "Text"})
    in
        #"Reordered Columns"

     

6 Replies

  • MarcelBeug's avatar
    MarcelBeug
    Icon for Community Champion rankCommunity Champion

    The code below expands all nested tables from this webpage (as an example) as requested, but I'm note sure if the result makes much sense.
    It includes an embedded recursive function fnCombineAll.

    Possibly some further refinement would be required, but at least we have a start.

    let
        Source = Web.Page(Web.Contents("https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/How-to-expand-all-nested-tables-at-once-table-expandtablecolumn/m-p/129451#U129451")),
        Data0 = Source{0}[Data],
        ChildrenWithTable = Table.SelectRows(Data0, each [Children] is table),
    
        fnCombineAll = (TableSoFar as table, newChildren as table) as table =>
        let
            Combined = Table.Buffer(Table.Combine(List.Union({{TableSoFar},newChildren[Children]}))),
            ChildrensChildrenWithTable = Table.AddColumn(newChildren, "ChildrensChildren", each Table.SelectRows([Children], each [Children] is table)),
            ChildrensChildrenCombined = Table.Combine(ChildrensChildrenWithTable[ChildrensChildren]),
            CombinedAll = if Table.RowCount(ChildrensChildrenCombined) = 0 then Combined else @fnCombineAll(Combined, ChildrensChildrenCombined) 
        in
            CombinedAll,
    
    
        CombinedAll = if Table.RowCount(ChildrenWithTable) = 0 then Data0 else fnCombineAll(Data0, ChildrenWithTable),
        #"Added Index" = Table.AddIndexColumn(CombinedAll, "Index", 1, 1),
        #"Reordered Columns" = Table.ReorderColumns(#"Added Index",{"Index", "Kind", "Name", "Children", "Text"})
    in
        #"Reordered Columns"

     

    • cpinho's avatar
      cpinho
      Icon for Advocate I rankAdvocate I

      Hi Marcel,

       

      Thank you very much for you great assistance. Trying to put it working together. But sometimes is just a mess.

       

       

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable

      Hello,

       

      MarcelBeug

      I need to do a similar thing as I also have rows with nested tables. Is there a way to do this via the UI?

       

      Thank you

      J

    • DebbieE's avatar
      DebbieE
      Icon for Community Champion rankCommunity Champion

      Im new to Power BI and Im not sure how you would use the above code.

       

      Do you have the steps on how to actually implement this?

       

      Thanks