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

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! Get ahead of the game and start preparing now! Learn more

Reply
Anonymous
Not applicable

Expression.Error: We cannot apply operator < to types Number and Text

Hello all, I have an below mentioned error

Expression.Error: We cannot apply operator < to types Number and Text

Details:
Operator=<
Left=4
Right=Q9_1

 

I get this while Pivoting , attached the query below

let
Source = #"Data 1 Sheet",
#"Unpivoted Other Columns" = Table.UnpivotOtherColumns(Source, {"Test Name", "Consumer", "Serving Position", "3_digit_Product_Code", "Sample_Name", "Unique Consumer ID", "Unique Product Code"}, "Attribute", "Value"),
#"Filtered Rows1" = Table.SelectRows(#"Unpivoted Other Columns", each Text.EndsWith([Attribute], "_JAR") or Text.Contains([Attribute], "JAR") or Text.Contains([Attribute], "jar") or Text.Contains([Attribute], "Jar")),
#"Added Conditional Column" = Table.AddColumn(#"Filtered Rows1", "Custom", each if [Value] = 1 then "Too Less" else if [Value] = 2 then "Too Less" else if [Value] = 3 then "Just About Right" else if [Value] >= 4 then "Too Strong" else null),
#"Inserted Literal" = Table.AddColumn(#"Added Conditional Column", "Literal", each 1),
#"Changed Type" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(#"Inserted Literal",{{"Literal", Int64.Type}}),
#"Pivoted Column" = Table.Pivot(#"Changed Type", List.Distinct(#"Changed Type"[Custom]), "Custom", "Literal")
in
#"Pivoted Column"

 

Can someone help to solve this error, Thanks!

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
jennratten
Super User
Super User

Hello - Power Query is finding a text value when it expects a number.  Based on your script, I would think that it is in the 'Value' column.  I recomend you use Table.FindText before the #"Added Conditional Column" step to locate it.  The text value causing the problem is 'Q9_1'.  

Table.FindText ( #"Filtered Rows1", "Q9_1" )

 

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
Anonymous
Not applicable

Hello @jennratten . Yes there is text value in the Value column, that causes this error.

Thanks for helping me out 👍

jennratten
Super User
Super User

Hello - Power Query is finding a text value when it expects a number.  Based on your script, I would think that it is in the 'Value' column.  I recomend you use Table.FindText before the #"Added Conditional Column" step to locate it.  The text value causing the problem is 'Q9_1'.  

Table.FindText ( #"Filtered Rows1", "Q9_1" )

 

Helpful resources

Announcements
Power BI DataViz World Championships

Power BI Dataviz World Championships

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! Get ahead of the game and start preparing now!

November Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - November 2025

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

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.