Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Enhance your career with this limited time 50% discount on Fabric and Power BI exams. Ends August 31st. Request your voucher.

Reply
SMarshall
New Member

Use missingfield.ignore on source data

 Hi All,

 

I have a data source from excel where I have removed numerous columns.  When I go to import the updated excel file with less columns I get the "Missing Fields Error" and am unable to import the data.  I do not want any of those columns, and rebuilding the whole import just for a few missing columns, at this point, would be a massive pain.  I read about the ability to use missingfield.ignore on tables...however, I'm unsure how to use it upon importing the data source.  Ie, is there a way to utilize it on:

 

= Source{[Item="case_all_sentiment",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data]

 

For example, = Source{[Item="case_all_sentiment",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data],MissingField.Ignore

 

(NOTE: I know this does not work).  

3 REPLIES 3
v-xjiin-msft
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Hi @SMarshall,

 

MissingField.Ignore is an optional parameter in record and table functions indicating that missing fields should be ignored. So it cannot be used in Source().

 

And could you please share us your Excel file (or a sample file which can help us repro your issue) with One Drive or Google Drive if possible? So that I can know the actual situation and make some tests.

 

Thanks,
Xi Jin.

Hi v-xjiin-msft, 

 

I appreicate your response and am sorry for getting back to you so late.  Basically, say I have the following columns in an excel spreadsheet

 A B C D E

 

I then build out a very extensive dashboard but discover I no longer need column C.  Rather than uploading a blank cell, I just want column C to be ignored as my new excel file is just 

ABDE.

 

If this were just one column, I probably wouldn't mind having blank columns.  However, in reality, I have 10-15 columns that have all gotten moved around in order. 

 

Thus, ideally, I want Power BI to stop erroring out when it hits a "missing" column and just move on and not upload the column any longer.  Is that possible?

SMarshall
New Member

 Hi All,

 

I have a data source from excel where I have removed numerous columns.  When I go to import the updated excel file with less columns I get the "Missing Fields Error" and am unable to import the data.  I do not want any of those columns, and rebuilding the whole import just for a few missing columns, at this point, would be a massive pain.  I read about the ability to use missingfield.ignore on tables...however, I'm unsure how to use it upon importing the data source.  Ie, is there a way to utilize it on:

 

= Source{[Item="case_all_sentiment",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data]

 

For example, = Source{[Item="case_all_sentiment",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data],MissingField.Ignore

 

(NOTE: I know this does not work).  

Helpful resources

Announcements
July 2025 community update carousel

Fabric Community Update - July 2025

Find out what's new and trending in the Fabric community.

July PBI25 Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - July 2025

Check out the July 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

Join our Fabric User Panel

Join our Fabric User Panel

This is your chance to engage directly with the engineering team behind Fabric and Power BI. Share your experiences and shape the future.