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K_H's avatar
K_H
New Member
4 years ago
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Power Query – Importing selected columns from CSV

Hello,

I am trying to import selected columns from a CSV file and exclude any columns that contain personal information. An example data set is below - columns B, D and F should be excluded. 

 

I've been using this query: = Csv.Document(File.Contents("SelectedFilePath\Test File.csv"),[Delimiter=",", Columns={"ColumnA","ColumnC","ColumnE","ColumnG"}, Encoding=1252, QuoteStyle=QuoteStyle.None])

 

However, the columns re-order themselves as you can see from the below output with the personal information being imported:

 

Instead of Column, A, B etc, I’ve tried using Column1, 2 etc and the specific column names but I get the same issue every time.  Is there a quick fix for this? Many thanks!

  • Unfortunately, this is the limitation of PQ...You can't control the order of columns to be imported. If you specify 4 columns, here then it will import first 4 columns. 

    {"ColumnA","ColumnC","ColumnE","ColumnG"} = This supplies names of columns to first 4 columns, it doesn't control which columns to be imported. Hence, first 4 columns will be imported and named "ColumnA","ColumnC","ColumnE","ColumnG". 

1 Reply

  • Vijay_A_Verma's avatar
    Vijay_A_Verma
    Most Valuable Professional

    Unfortunately, this is the limitation of PQ...You can't control the order of columns to be imported. If you specify 4 columns, here then it will import first 4 columns. 

    {"ColumnA","ColumnC","ColumnE","ColumnG"} = This supplies names of columns to first 4 columns, it doesn't control which columns to be imported. Hence, first 4 columns will be imported and named "ColumnA","ColumnC","ColumnE","ColumnG".