Rename tables in datamodel (PowerQuery) without impact your existing visuals/measures/calc. tables

[Applicable88]

Hello,

I thought this was a given. I just oversee another report where I need to change all complicated and long table names (names of the cloud source).

The creator already finished the report and now I need to change the table names in the power query and give the tables a more meaningful name. I really thougth all measure, calculated columns, tables where the table names got used, will also change accordingly to the new name. Now these measures are deactivated and do I really need to do it manually? I think there must be a recognition inside PowerBi Desktop...

Hope someone has a workaround or maybe a tip for me.

Thank you in advance.

Best. 

[julienvdc]

Hey I think name changes work if the datamodel is within the report you're working on.

I am facing the same issue when I am working on a report that sources an already loaded and shared datamodel. If we change some table name in the datamodel, then any report using that datamodel will break on visuals that use those tables as they won't find the tables anymore (due to name change).

[Mrtnkbg]

This was a piece of really important information, thanks for sharing.

[v-xulin-mstf]

Hi @Applicable88,

It works well in my environment.

Please try the latest version of power bi.

If you still have the problem, please share your sample pbix file, that will be a great help.

Best Regards,
Link

If this post helps then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[HashamNiaz]

Hi @Applicable88 !

When you change a table name or column name using Power Query editor, and Close & Apply changes, measure will automatically picks up the name table name & column name. You can see the measure DAX accomodates the new changes.

We didn't know what you mean by deactivate measure, is it like incorrect DAX comming for measure.

Regards,

Hasham

[Applicable88]

Hello @HashamNiaz,

by "deactiveated" I mean they get a warning side in the dax editor, since they cannot find the table anymore.

You have to types of column references : 

1. is full qualified and 2. simple, like this:

First version: sumx( 'Tablename', 'Tablename' [Sales])

and

Second version: sum('Tablename'[Sales]) can actually be written even simpler: sum([Sales])

When I change table name in powerquery the tablename got change for not qualified ones like number two. But for sumx for example only the second part got renamed automatically , the first part of 'Tablename' didn't change after applying the changes.

[HashamNiaz · Accepted solution]

Hi @Applicable88 !

I have tested this multiple times directly by changing table / column names in Power Query editor for both type of calculations, complex DAX and simple DAX. 

Both got changed and the measure always show the new table / column names, so it never breaks.

I am using Power BI Desktip April 2021 release. May be some other community member might come up with other ideas.

Regards,

Hasham

[Applicable88]

Hi @HashamNiaz @v-xulin-mstf , thanks for the effort. It's really mind boggling, why it only changed the "simple measures" but not the table name for example in a Sumx(Table1,..... part. 

I will update the lates powerbi. 

Best.