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

Data Days is here! Join us now for 60+ days of learning, challenges, and connection. Learn more

Reply
Anonymous
Not applicable

PowerQuery in Excel - adding columns based on a List.

Hi all,

I have a question.
So Let say I have Table with any data,
then I have a list with Columns I wish to add:

{"NewCol1", "NewCol2", "NewCol3"}
the list is manualy verified (  what ccan you do? eh... )

so Now I need to add thoose columnsto MyTable.

any help would be appriciead

5 REPLIES 5
Anonymous
Not applicable

ok, let me provide a simple example.
Let say I have a Table:
amount in local Currency

exchange rate 2
exchange rate 3
some other columns.

and now my Column list:
NewColumnExRate1
NewColumnExRate2
NewColumnExRate2

Calculations:
if columns do not exists in original table:
NewColumnExRate1 = amount in local Currency * exchange rate 1

NewColumnExRate2 = amount in local Currency * exchange rate 2
NewColumnExRate3 = amount in local Currency * exchange rate 3

this is either / or logic,
either all of them will exists or none of them, so there will be no need to do conditional addding of columns.

I tried using @AlienSx solution but Igot defeated and could not implement addding columns with calculations, just empty ones.

@Anonymous this checks if one of column names from your list is already there. If not then all 3 columns are added

    rates = 
        [NewColumnExRate1 = each [amount in local Currency] * [exchange rate 1],
        NewColumnExRate2 = each [amount in local Currency] * [exchange rate 2],
        NewColumnExRate3 = each [amount in local Currency] * [exchange rate 3]],
    add_columns = 
        if List.Contains(Table.ColumnNames(MyTable), "NewColumnExRate3") 
        then MyTable 
        else List.Accumulate(Record.FieldNames(rates), MyTable, (s, c) => Table.AddColumn(s, c, Record.Field(rates, c)))
wdx223_Daniel
Community Champion
Community Champion

this code will add three null columns

=Table.SelectColumns(MyTable,Table.ColumnNames(MyTable)&{"NewCol1", "NewCol2", "NewCol3"},2)

AlienSx
Super User
Super User

Hi, @Anonymous 

List.Accumulate(your_list, MyTable, (s, c) => Table.AddColumn(s, c, each null))
JoeBarry
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Hi @Anonymous 

 

You will need to provide more information,

 

What data is in the original table?

What data is in the new columns and how are they related to the original table?

 

Thanks

Joe

Helpful resources

Announcements
Fabric Data Days is here Carousel

Fabric Data Days 2026

Don't miss out on Data Days, June 15 through August 7. Learn Fabric, Power BI, SQL, AI and more.

May Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - May 2026

Check out the May 2026 Power BI update to learn about new features.

Power BI DataViz World Championships carousel

Power BI DataViz World Championships - June 2026

A new Power BI DataViz World Championship is coming this June! Don't miss out on submitting your entry.