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Microsoft Idea

    Power BI

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    Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

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    Ben Watt's profile image

    Ben Watt on 04 Feb 2021 07:40:50

    When adding Columns in Power Query there is no option to choose the data type, so columns are added as untyped.

    Users are left to add another step, or manually edit the function to set the optional columnType parameter.

    In all of the Add Column windows (Custom Column, Conditional Column, Column from Examples) I would like to see a drop-down where a type can be chosen to populate that columnType.

    Comments (6)
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    Andreu fil on 19 Apr 2024 15:33:58

    RE: Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

    Good information, thankssehackear.top

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    Hauke Henning Selke on 27 Oct 2022 03:33:48

    RE: Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

    I just wanted to also submit this idea and saw Ben Watt beat me to it!The feature "Similar ideas" showed me automatically that this had already been raised months before.If this would be implemented, it would be a tremendous help in daily work!

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    C L on 22 Apr 2022 17:19:45

    RE: Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

    Also: When changing the type on a column immediately after the step that created it, offer a similar message to the one that already exists on successive type conversions:"The selected column allows type to be specified when created. Would you like to replace the existing conversion, or preserve the existing conversion and add the new conversion as a separate step?"

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    C L on 22 Apr 2022 16:59:05

    RE: Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

    Very useful! Writing a type into the Table.AddColumn function is a great way to keep code clean and intuitively understandable, versus adding a Change Type step. Ability to select this directly in the Custom Column and Conditional Column interface would be very helpful!

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    Odel Adonay Leal Hernandez on 18 Feb 2021 17:02:34

    RE: Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

    Wow! It will be so really great solution! I support this idea.

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    Ásgeir Gunnarsson on 05 Feb 2021 11:55:51

    RE: Power Query: Allow users to choose data type with any Add Column functions

    This would be very useful. It saves a step and prevents mistakes (columns with data type any)