Expression Error We cannot apply operator - to types Text and Text

[Candi]

Hi,

I keep receiving this error when trying to run my power query, and I can't figure out how to solve it.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks for reaching out to the community, @Candi .

It's an easy question. I reproduced it.

The step I did was subtract 1 from the [Hours] column, and the reason for the error was that my [Hours] was of type text.(Text cannot be added or subtracted.) 

Just turn the [Hours] column into a numeric type before performing the subtraction step.

Of course, if you're not here for addition and subtraction, you're trying to add a "-" between the fields and the fields. Then you can do it as follows.

Another note, the merge must be text, e.g. [Hours] is a numeric type and not a text type, you need to modify the code as follows

Best Regards,

Stephen Tao

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

[Candi]

Thanks!  This was helpful and I was able to solve the error.  However, another has popped up.  I believe it's telling me that when it tries to run that particular  (Operating Debit Master - Subtract' query, the table is empty?  I just can't seem to identify which table.

[PwerQueryKees]

The error message says you are trying to subtract a text field from another text field....

[PwerQueryKees]

We need more info than this. Can you show the data and the formula throwing the error?

[Candi]

Full disclosure, my former coworker built this power query.  He showed me how to solve a lot of the errors that we encountered in the past, but this one is new. 

I'm not sure which data/formula is causing the error.  I've gone into the power query editor to try to figure it out and I believe I've identified which table is the problem, but I've gone through the entire source workbook, but still couldn't find the issue.

[ronrsnfld]

Go through the applied steps and see on which step that error first appears. The error means pretty much what it says. You have text data that you are trying to subtract.

[Candi]

Possibly a silly question, but there are names included in the fields where the last names are hypenated.  Is there a possiblity that it's interpreting this as subtracting text?

[ronrsnfld]

Unlikely, but without data and code, it is not possible to tell you precisely how to change things to avoid this error.

[Candi]

Ok.  Thanks