Forum Discussion

apoje's avatar
apoje
Helper II
6 years ago
Solved

How to append multiple columns from inside one table

Hi I would like to append multiple columns from one table into one column in PowerQuery. I have a data looking like this:   bundle-id content1-id quantity1 content2-id quantity2 content3-i...
Need Help
ibarrau's avatar
ibarrau
Super User
6 years ago

Hi! i don't thinks this is just column. Your idea is whole new table. You can add a new step on your power query that will transform the complete table or create a blank query to query your table creating a second one with the result. Let's assume your table name is Table1. Now you can create a new blank query with a code that should be like this:

= Table.Combine({
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(Table1, "idcontent1", "idquantity1")
        ,{{"idcontent1", "idcontent"},{"idquantity1", "idquantity"} })
    ,
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(Table1, "idcontent2", "idquantity2")
        ,{{"idcontent2", "idcontent"},{"idquantity2", "idquantity"} })
    ,
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(Table1, "idcontentN", "idquantityN")
        ,{{"idcontentN", "idcontent"},{"idquantityN", "idquantity"} })
})

 Table.Combine is for append. Table.RenameColumns to append the same columns together. Table.SelectColumns is to just select the columns you will use in the append.

 

Hope this helps,

apoje's avatar
apoje
Helper II
6 years ago

hi ibarrau  you are right my phrasing was off. The result would actually be a new table. 

 

 

= Table.Combine({
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(tblSL, "var-nr-1", "Multiplication.1")
        ,{{"var-nr-1", "var-nr"},{"Multiplication.1", "Quantity"} })
    ,
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(tblSL, "var-nr-2", "Multiplication.2")
        ,{{"var-nr-2", "var-nr"},{"Multiplication.2", "Quantity"} })
    ,
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(tblSL, "var-nr-3", "Multiplication.3")
        ,{{"var-nr-3", "var-nr"},{"Multiplication.3", "Quantity"} })
    ,
    Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(tblSL, "var-nr-4", "Multiplication.4")
        ,{{"var-nr-4", "var-nr"},{"Multiplication.4", "Quantity"} })
})

 

 

I have created a blank query and written the code as you suggested. However I am getting an error message

Expression.Error: We cannot convert the value "Multiplication.1" to type Number.
Details:
Value=Multiplication.1
Type=[Type]

 

All the Multiplication columns are a whole number type. I am not sure how to amend the error...

 

Regards,
Andraz

  • ibarrau's avatar
    ibarrau
    Super User
    6 years ago

    Ok good. The error doesn't look that is coming from that code. It says it's trying to convert multiplication.1 to number and it can't do it. Check your previous o next steps and check if you have a convert to number somewhere. You might have wrong data in the column that is not allowing you to convert it or apply math over the column.

    You can always check my code by parts. Starting without the combine to see if it works:

        Table.RenameColumns(
        Table.SelectColumns(tblSL, "var-nr-1", "Multiplication.1")
        ,{{"var-nr-1", "var-nr"},{"Multiplication.1", "Quantity"} })

    If you want you can share previous steps so we can help you find the error.

     

    Regards,