You are learning Power Query in MS Excel
How to append data from multiple tables into a single table in Power Query?
There are two main ways to append data from multiple tables into a single table in Power Query:
1. Append Queries:
This is the most straightforward approach for combining a small number of tables. Here's how to do it:
* Select one of the tables you want to append as the starting point.
* Go to the "Home" tab in the Power Query Editor ribbon.
* Click on "Append" in the "Combine" section.
* You can choose either "Append queries" (combines two tables) or "Append queries as new" (creates a new table with all appended data).
* In the "Append" dialog box, select the option for "Two tables" or "Three or more tables" depending on your situation.
* Choose the tables you want to append from the "Available tables" list and click "Add" to move them to the "Tables to append" list.
* You can adjust the order of the tables in the "Tables to append" list using the up and down arrows.
* Click "OK" to combine the tables.
2. Table.Combine:
This method offers more flexibility, especially when working with many tables or dynamic scenarios. Here's the basic structure:
```
let
SourceTable1 = ..., // Your first table definition
SourceTable2 = ..., // Your second table definition
CombinedTable = Table.Combine({SourceTable1, SourceTable2}, interKind = Union)
in
CombinedTable
```
* Replace `SourceTable1` and `SourceTable2` with your actual table definitions.
* You can add more tables within the curly braces `{}` separated by commas.
* `interKind = Union` specifies that you want to combine the tables with matching columns.
Additional Considerations:
* Matching Columns: Ensure the tables you're appending have columns with compatible data types in the same order for a seamless merge. Power Query will try to match columns based on names by default.
* Column Renaming: If column names differ across tables, you might need to use the "Table.RenameColumns" function to ensure all tables have consistent column names before appending.
* Data Cleaning: Consider cleaning and transforming your data before appending if necessary. You can use Power Query's features for filtering, removing duplicates, or transforming data types.
By using either the "Append Queries" option or the "Table.Combine" function, you can effectively combine data from multiple tables into a single table within Power Query.