Clean data to include in a report

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While Power BI can import your data from almost any source, its visualization and modeling tools work best with columnar data. Sometimes, your data won't be formatted in simple columns, which is often the case with Excel spreadsheets.

In this unit you will learn how to clean columnar data with Power Query Editor just like the example in the following video.

This page is purely informational, the Excel file seen below is not provided.

Video:

This page covers, "Clean columnar data".

A table layout that looks good to the human eye might not be optimal for automated queries. For example, the following spreadsheet has headers that span multiple columns.

Excel spreadsheet with headers that span multiple columns.

Clean data

Fortunately, Power Query Editor has tools to help you quickly transform multi-column tables into datasets that you can use.

Transpose data

By using Transpose in Power Query Editor, you can swap rows into columns to better format the data.

Screenshot of the Transpose button

Format data

You might need to format data so that Power BI can properly categorize and identify that data. With some transformations, you'll cleanse data into a dataset that you can use in Power BI. Examples of powerful transformations include promoting rows into headers, using Fill to replace null values, and Unpivot Columns.

With Power BI, you can experiment with transformations and determine which will transform your data into the most usable columnar format. Remember, the Applied Steps section of Power Query Editor records all your actions. If a transformation doesn't work the way that you intended, select the X next to the step, and then undo it.

Screenshot of how to remove steps from the Applied Steps section.

After you've cleaned your data into a usable format, you can begin to create powerful visuals in Power BI.

For more information, see Tutorial: Combine sales data from Excel and an OData feed.