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rpiboy_1's avatar
rpiboy_1
Helper V
3 years ago
Solved

Dynamically Merge Multiple Columns

Hi all, I want to dynamically merge columns in a function.   Let's say I have this fairly 'standard' PQ expression:     #"Inserted Merged Column" = Table.AddColumn(#"PreviousStepp", "NewColumnN...
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  • ppm1's avatar
    ppm1
    3 years ago

    Here is one way to do it. You can provide the colnames as a concatenated text string and parse it in the function.

     

    //fnAddMergeColumn
let
    Source = (inputtable as table, newcolumn as text, colnames as text) => 
        let 
        
            result = Table.AddColumn(inputtable, "Concatenated", each Text.Combine(Record.ToList(Record.SelectFields(_, Text.Split(colnames, "-")) ), "."))
        in 
            result
in
    Source

     

PhilipTreacy's avatar
PhilipTreacy
Super User
3 years ago

Hi rpiboy_1 

 

I don't see the advantage of creating another function to do this.  At some point you have to declare what ColumnNamesList is so not sure how 'dynamic' your desired solution is.

 

Why not just concatenate the columns ?

 

= [Column1] & "." & [Column2]

 

Regards

 

Phil

rpiboy_1's avatar
rpiboy_1
Helper V
3 years ago

FYI, to close the loop on this. I did not end up writing this as a seperate function, but it was helpful to see the solution written as a stand-alone function from the perspective of parsing the code to understand how to adopt it to my own needs.

 

I was actually able to drop the 'Text.Split' as in my real function I already have the columns names as list, so conviently I'm able to just pass that list directly and it all works!

 

Thanks again!