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

Power BI is turning 10! Let’s celebrate together with dataviz contests, interactive sessions, and giveaways. Register now.

Reply
gouldc2
New Member

pull one character out of text string

I have a list of serial codes that I want to pull individual characters out of that relate to a date made. For instance I want the third digit (7) out of CH78KG092 to put into a new column because that corresponds to the year made (2017). In excel I use a mid function. How to do in power BI? Thanks.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
drewlewis15
Solution Specialist
Solution Specialist

There are a couple different functions that you can use, one being Text.Middle.

 

Below is how that function works, but you can always use the following link to play around with other functions:

 

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/query-bi/m/power-query-m-function-reference

 

Text.Middle(text as nullable text, start as number, optional count as nullable number) as nullable text

About

Returns count characters, or through the end of text; at the offset start.

Example 1

Find the substring from the text "Hello World" starting at index 6 spanning 5 characters.

Text.Middle("Hello World", 6, 5)  
Equals: "World"

 

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
ChrisMendoza
Resident Rockstar
Resident Rockstar

DAX has MID( ) as well

 

1.PNG

 

M Code also has similar Text.Middle( )

 

2.PNG






Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!
Did my answers help arrive at a solution? Give it a kudos by clicking the Thumbs Up!

Proud to be a Super User!



drewlewis15
Solution Specialist
Solution Specialist

There are a couple different functions that you can use, one being Text.Middle.

 

Below is how that function works, but you can always use the following link to play around with other functions:

 

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/query-bi/m/power-query-m-function-reference

 

Text.Middle(text as nullable text, start as number, optional count as nullable number) as nullable text

About

Returns count characters, or through the end of text; at the offset start.

Example 1

Find the substring from the text "Hello World" starting at index 6 spanning 5 characters.

Text.Middle("Hello World", 6, 5)  
Equals: "World"

 

Helpful resources

Announcements
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.

June 2025 Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - June 2025

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

June 2025 community update carousel

Fabric Community Update - June 2025

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