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Anonymous
Not applicable

Description Column with Text and Numbers

I have a "description" column in PowerBI that I use within a PowerBI table.   When I attempt to refresh the report, I continue to get an error about this particular table.   After further checking, I see the error ties back to a column within this table; it has multiple data types in the Description column.   The first character of the Description may start with a # or may start with text; afterall it is a free-form fillin description field.  Since I am not using this column in a calculation, and I only want to display this information, how can I get around this issue?

2 ACCEPTED SOLUTIONS

@Anonymous I think by default power query is changing the data type of this column to number, on change type step, change the data type to text and it will work.



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Anonymous
Not applicable

That worked.   Thank you!

View solution in original post

6 REPLIES 6
smpa01
Super User
Super User

@AnonymousCan you try to create a Custom Column as following and then delete the original column and use the custom column for your report.

 

try Text.From([MixDataColumn]) otherwise "-999"

 try is M's IFERROR equivalent.

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Anonymous
Not applicable

I've tried every combination and still I am unsuccessful at using this statement.   I am using the column name that contains the mixed data type.   

Text.From([WARRANTY_CODE]) otherwise "-999"

 It returns, "To use special characters in a column name, enclose the entire name in brackets.

 

Warranty Code is the column containing both text and #'s.

 

Any add'l help is greatly appreciated.    Thanks.

@Anonymouscan you please post the sample data here.

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Anonymous
Not applicable

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sozwslmq8q4ksbv/RecurringCodes.xlsx?dl=0

Here is the file.   The first column is the one that contains text and #'s.    

 

Thanks.

@Anonymous I think by default power query is changing the data type of this column to number, on change type step, change the data type to text and it will work.



Subscribe to the @PowerBIHowTo YT channel for an upcoming video on List and Record functions in Power Query!!

Learn Power BI and Fabric - subscribe to our YT channel - Click here: @PowerBIHowTo

If my solution proved useful, I'd be delighted to receive Kudos. When you put effort into asking a question, it's equally thoughtful to acknowledge and give Kudos to the individual who helped you solve the problem. It's a small gesture that shows appreciation and encouragement! ❤


Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution. Proud to be a Super User! Appreciate your Kudos 🙂
Feel free to email me with any of your BI needs.

Anonymous
Not applicable

That worked.   Thank you!

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