Power Query Magic: Recent Episodes
Wyn Hopkins
Interviews with Power Query Magicians from around the world
Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKeJBKP0-vXHFp7dwb9AW2Q
Miguel Escobar is the co-author of the original book on Power Query - "M" is for data monkey and its recent completely re-written version "Master Your Data"
Master Your Data with Excel and Power BI - Skillwave Training
Now a Product Manager at Microsoft working on Power Query - Miguel is someone who wants to help everyone turn their data into useful information
Check out www.powerquery.com
Also a musician with his song Someday Somehow available to listen to
Spotify – Someday, Somehow
Someday, Somehow (feat. Chris Cron) - Single by PAB on Apple Music
*Blatant Advert*
Did you know I've written a book "Power BI for the Excel Analyst" - https://pbi.guide/
Author of Supercharge DAX, trainer, speaker and all-round good guy, Matt is a Sydney based pillar of the Power Pivot / Power BI community.
Any greater achievement than coining the phrase "The Collie Method?"
Check out Matt's favourite Power Query article: https://exceleratorbi.com.au/build-reusable-calendar-table-power-query/
Most popular: https://exceleratorbi.com.au/remove-duplicates-keep-last-record-power-query/
VOTE FOR THIS:
Remove Camel Case https://ideas.powerbi.com/ideas/idea/?ideaid=ed3364a1-fa9b-ec11-826d-281878de31cb
Check out https://www.youtube.com/@PowerQuery
Wine Shop Owner, art lover, Power Query enthusiast.
Erik Svensen has been blogging about Power Query before it was called Power Query!
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/y5XV6-FXOKk
Check out Erik's links
Filter a table based on another
How to handle different decimal separators
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriksvensen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/donsvensen
Accountant turned consultant, Rick is a newly minted MVP with a lot of thoughtful and insightful comments around Power Query and working in the data world. He sets a new record for the Just A "M"inute game!
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/3IPFdtFi_UI
Check out Rick's links Favourite Post https://gorilla.bi/power-query/list-functions/ Most popular https://gorilla.bi/dax/5-ways-to-calculate-last-12-months-in-dax/ And good news... Query collections are coming... https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform-release-plan/2022wave2/data-integration/save-curate-personal-query-collection-power-query LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmaurinus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rickmaurinus
As always I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with my guest. Thank you Celia.
Celia has a very different backstory to many guests, such a twisting tale of chance and hard work coupled with a dedication to automate everything and find a better way.
Check out Celia's favourite and extremely useful blog post on allowing a single refresh when combining loaded tables with Pivot tables
https://youtu.be/JCNSVWY2NYw
https://solveandexcel.ca/2020/09/11/enable-background-refresh-property-in-power-query-in-excel/
And her most popular here
https://youtu.be/OQE9qMbofCw
https://solveandexcel.ca/2020/10/23/how-to-change-the-display-language-in-excel/
You can also find Celia here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/celiajordaoalves/
https://twitter.com/celia_excel
The Dataflow Connector code I mention briefly is = PowerPlatform.Dataflows(null)
I'm a big fan of Chandeep's YouTube videos, his Power Query content is thoughtful and well explained. I often discover he's covered topics 12 months before I do which is annoying! :)
I really enjoyed our wide-ranging chat.
Ideas we mention at the end
Customisable Ribbon in Power Query
Expandable Power Query Formula Bar
The YouTube version of this chat is here https://youtu.be/8IOA18yzDGA
You can find Chandeep via his excellent YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/GoodlyChandeep
Favourite Blog: Recruitment Dashboard in Power BI - https://www.goodly.co.in/recruitment-tracker-dashboard-template/
Most Popular: Combine Data from Multiple Excel Files - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jegiQkyC3s
Find Chandeep here:
- Blog - https://www.goodly.co.in/blog/
- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/goodlychandeep
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandeepchhabra/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/chandeep2786
"Just get it done" - the unofficial Power Query motto
Ed is a Principal Consultant at P3 Adaptive From life as a CPA to providing more than 1,000 solutions to the Power BI Community, Ed has been on the Power Query / Power Pivot / Power BI journey from the start.
Ed's post on the P3 blog about lists can be found here: https://p3adaptive.com/2022/03/working-with-lists-in-power-query-lets-count-words/
Favourite Blog: https://www.ehansalytics.com/blog/2021/6/12/working-with-multiple-row-headers-from-excel-in-power-query
Most Popular: https://www.ehansalytics.com/blog/2020/7/16/return-row-based-on-max-value-from-one-column-when-grouping
You can find Ed here https://www.linkedin.com/in/edhansberry/
and on twitter: https://twitter.com/ehansalytics
Miguel is Group Product Manager, Citizen Data Integration @ Microsoft
He has been on the Power Query development journey since it's early inception as codename Data Explorer, and was involved in the original development of the Power Query user interface that we all know and love.
He's now running the team and is more coach than player these days.
It was fantastic to chat to Miguel about all things Power Query and try out the new game - Just a "M"inute
You can find Miguel here https://www.linkedin.com/in/migllopis/ and check out all things Power Query via https://powerquery.microsoft.com/en-us/ and the relatively new twitter handle https://twitter.com/MSPowerQuery
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6GL4U4pkWeI
Imke looks at M code like Neo sees the "M"atrix. She is one of those folks that just amazes me as to what is possible inside Power Query and the M language.
Imke has made a huge contribution already to the various tech community forums and continues to do so by now developing some amazing tools to make all our Power BI development lives easier.
https://www.thebiccountant.com/about/
Imke's favourite tool: Power BI Cleaner Gen2 now covers Analysis Services Models as well (thebiccountant.com)
Most popular article: Easy Profit and Loss and account scheme reports DAX PowerBI Pivot (thebiccountant.com)
Advanced algorithms:
Goal seek algorithm: Non-linear Break-Even Analysis in PowerBI – The BIccountant
Matrix Inversion (MINVERSE Excel-function): Returns the inverse matrix for a matrix stored in an array. As a bonus, its determinant is returned in the metadata. (github.com)
Ben Gribaudo Series
Power Query M Primer (part 1): Introduction, Simple Expressions & let | Ben Gribaudo
The Power Query Magic YouTube version is available here... https://youtu.be/AWuWwxGs3lo
Alex Powers is a passionate Power Query advocate who has trained thousands of people in Power BI and now works for Microsoft helping to spread the word that Power Query is Magic!
We have a wide ranging conversation, agreeing that Tables are the key to it all. I raise my wariness of "AI" driven help, Alex battles with whether to restart a blog, and of course we discuss Query Folding.
30 Day Challenge: Query Folding - #30DQuery -
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKW7XPyNDgRCorKNS1bfZoAO3YSIAVz3N
Power BI Workshops - https://aka.ms/pbiworkshops
The Power Query Magic YouTube version is available here... https://youtu.be/OKKAwlUIUW4
Reza Rad is a flamenco guitar playing Power BI community "stalwart".
Look up the definition of the word "stalwart" and you'll find something like this "a dedicated, reliable, and hard-working supporter of an organization or team" . This is Reza, he contributes to the Power BI community in so many ways I question when he has time to sleep!
Reza was one of the first to blog about the early versions of Power BI, we touch on SSIS and discuss what a "Microsoft Regional Director" role involves - it's not what you'd think.
Links:
Website: Home - RADACAD
Most Popular Article
https://radacad.com/append-vs-merge-in-power-bi-and-power-query
Favourite Articles:
https://radacad.com/grouping-in-power-query-getting-the-last-item-in-each-group
The Power Query Magic YouTube version is available here... https://youtu.be/07zOX5IYImI
Gil is author of the excellent book Collect, Combine, and Transform Data Using Power Query in Excel and Power BI https://datachant.com/next/
We discuss Gil's experience as one of the Program Managers on the Excel team where he was closely involved with Power Query in it's earliest days.
We discover one of Gil's first ever blog posts was the inspiration for my first ever YouTube video
Gil's post: https://p3adaptive.com/2015/05/harness-power-query-to-gain-competitive-analysis-insights-from-linkedin/
My Video: https://youtu.be/uej_Uc3__bE
Links:
Gil's App Source Apps: https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?page=1&search=datachant
Most Popular Article
https://datachant.com/2016/12/09/remove-empty-columns-rows-from-table-in-excel-power-query/
Favourite Articles:
https://datachant.com/2019/10/17/bad-practices-power-bi-pie-charts/
https://datachant.com/2017/01/06/10-mistakes-you-always-do-in-powerbi-powerquery/
"I can't think of anyone that uses Excel that wouldn't benefit from using Power Query" - Mynda Treacy
How do you go from art studies in a beachside suburb school, to accountant at two London investment banks to a YouTube following of 326,000!?
Mynda and I cover lots of ground in this conversation. We have had similar journeys working overseas, working for banks, becoming accountants, getting hooked on Excel.
Mynda has a huge following on YouTube and her online training business MyOnlineTrainingHub
I ask the longest and probably oddest "Mpossible" question regarding the treatment of 01/01/1900 date.
We both learn a Power Query feature thanks to Miguel Escobar.
Links:
Power Query Automates Boring Tasks: https://youtu.be/L4BuUzccLpo
Interactive Excel Dashboards with Power Query and Power Pivot: https://youtu.be/TK0CJBaqvnY
In this episode Lars introduces a brand new podcast feature - "my worst presentation ever!"
We share our mutual nervousness of public speaking and discuss meetup groups and the MVP award.
We get into the back story around his creation of the Notepad++ Power Query Editor and reminisce about the last time we used VBA
Enjoy:
Check out the YouTube recording of this episode here https://youtu.be/KJlE3RFE7dQ
Links
Website: https://ssbi-blog.de/category/blog/
Most Popular Posts :
Lists in PQ
Power Query Editor using Notepad++
Favourite Post: The Enivronment Concept
Recommended Book: Profession Excel Development book
Brush with Fame... Braulio Estima
If you haven't seen Oz demonstrating Power Query via his Excel on Fire YouTube channel then you are missing out. Our discussion takes us from good bars and good cookies to bad data, brave moves and a brush with fame I wasn't expecting
Enjoy
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zfuLTl8z4l8
Excel on Fire https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZgOVykPoRbSZQfY9YysiRQ
Paqui One Chip Challenge: https://youtu.be/F9JsFnSx7dY XLOOKUP Summit: https://youtu.be/0KEhR66btUs
Oz's Favourite: https://youtu.be/1dbXhynCqN8
Oz's Most Popular Video: https://youtu.be/v4taBhc9ENQ
Oz's take on his most popular (regretted) blog post https://medium.com/@OzExcel/my-clickbait-worked-but-not-for-me-881ad386fcc
Chris Webb is on the Microsoft Customer Advisory Team and a legend of the Power Query community.
In this episode Chris discusses the moment he fell in love with Power Query and he has some advice for how to read M Code as we explore the journey of roles and experiences that led him to be where he is today.
Chris Webb's BI Blog
Favourite Article
Most Popular Article
Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLxEYN5CSH8
Ken Puls is a Microsoft MVP of many years, co-author of THE original book on Power Query ( "M" is for Data Monkey) and well known personality of the Excel and Power Query World.
Links discussed in this episode
Excel Guru Newsletter https://www.excelguru.ca/content.php?335-Newsletter
SkillWave: https://skillwave.training/
MonkeyTools: https://www.excelguru.ca/content.php?341-Monkey-Tools
Vancouver User Group https://www.meetup.com/Vancouver-Power-BI-User-Group/
User Voice
Table Name Prompt: https://excel.uservoice.com/forums/304921-excel-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/10580340-change-excel-table-name-in-the-create-table-window
Dataflows https://excel.uservoice.com/forums/304921-excel-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/36898132-add-power-bi-dataflows-as-a-data-source-in-get
Blog / Video / Article
Most Popular: https://www.excelguru.ca/blog/2014/08/27/the-if-function-in-power-query/
Favourite: Slowly Change Dimension Solution : https://youtu.be/Iq1D1VgAyeU
Monkey Tools Demo: https://youtu.be/FxwCtWN0uTs
I'm Wyn Hopkins, Microsoft MVP, Power Query enthusiast, Excel and Power BI expert.
On this channel I will be meeting with the people who are leaders in sharing their knowledge about Power Query.
These are the people whose blogs, books, video and presentations I've been absorbing for many years. I'm excited to find out what makes them tick, how did they arrive at their current situation, and what advice and tips can they impart on us.
I want this to be fun, and I want to raise the profile of Power Query by sharing stories from the array of M Code magicians out there.
This is Power Query Magic
Check out our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKeJBKP0-vXHFp7dwb9AW2Q