Introduction to Power Query (Completed)

Power Query is a feature that is built into Excel 2016 and later and can be added for free to Excel 2010 and 2013. In this presentation Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA helps you get started with this feature that enables you to create set-and-forget data extractions and reports. The presentation leads off with creating a list of worksheets in any Excel workbook. You'll then see how to extract text from cells that even worksheet functions can't handle. You'll see how Power Query can wrestle even the most convoluted accounting report exports into in an analysis-ready format. You'll also see how to unpivot any report that has separate columns by account, class, or other measure into a list that is far better suited to data analysis.

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) version of Excel. David draws your attention to any differences in the older versions of Excel (2019, 2016, 2013, and earlier) during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that provides new feature updates as often as monthly. Conversely, the perpetual licensed versions of Excel have feature sets that don't change. Perpetual licensed versions have year numbers, such as Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and so on.

Who Should Attend
Professionals that import and manipulate any sort of reports in Excel or that need to transform data from one format to another.

Topics Covered

• Appending data from two or more worksheets into a self-updating consolidated list with Power Query
• Creating a list of worksheets in any workbook with Power Query
• Creating self-updating financial spreadsheets by using Power Query in Excel 2010 and later to pull data via automated queries that also overcome common issues in exported reports
• Extracting data from PDF files with Power Query in Microsoft 365
• Extracting text from the middle of a cell that has non-breaking spaces around it by way of Power Query (non-breaking spaces often appear in reports copied or generated from web pages)
• Importing and cleaning up text files with Power Query in anticipation for data analysis
• Managing data security prompts that may appear when you link external data into Excel spreadsheets

Learning Objectives

• Recognize how to use Power Query to extract text from cells based on non-breaking spaces
• Identify the location of the Power Query commands within Microsoft Excel
• Recognize how to unpivot a report into an analysis-ready format

Level
Intermediate

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
Experience working in Microsoft Excel.

Advance Preparation
None