Excel Power Query: Transform and Clean Data Without Complex Formulas
Power Query is Excel's most underutilized feature. It allows you to import, transform, and clean data from multiple sources without writing a single formula.
Why Power Query Changes Everything
Traditional data cleaning involves complex formulas, helper columns, and manual steps that must be repeated every time data updates. Power Query automates all of this.
Common Power Query Transformations
- Remove duplicates and blank rows
- Split columns by delimiter
- Pivot and unpivot data
- Merge data from multiple files
Sample Data Transformation
| Raw Data | Cleaned Output |
|---|---|
| John Doe | John Doe |
| Jane Smith | Jane Smith |
| Bob Jones | Bob Jones |