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K_H
New Member

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. 

 

K_H_0-1657632341364.png

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:

 

K_H_1-1657632506439.png

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!

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Vijay_A_Verma
Super User
Super User

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". 

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1 REPLY 1
Vijay_A_Verma
Super User
Super User

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". 

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