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nitin_bhatnagar
Resolver I
Resolver I

EXCEPT not working

I have two tables namely TABLE and TABLE (2) and I want a DIFFERENCE TABLE (TABLE (2) - TABLE) such that I want to see values from TABLE (2) that are not present in TABLE. I used EXCEPT function for this but it does not seem to work as I expected. Both the tables are identical in column headers except the values. I am also attaching a sample .pbix file. I don't understand why is this not working although the definition of EXCEPT says that it takes values from first table not present in second one. Please help.

 

Thanks

EXCEPT.NOTWORKING pbix file

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m_alireza
Solution Specialist
Solution Specialist

Hi @nitin_bhatnagar ,

In the sample pbix you provided, although the columns are identical in both tables, none of the rows in TABLE (2) match what is in TABLE. Thats why the except is returning all the rows from TABLE (2). 

All the values in the row have to match for it to be excluded. 

for example, in your pbix file, even though column3 in TABLE has ijk and Column 3 in Table(2) has ijk, column1 and column2 of TABLE dont match what is in TABLE (2) for that same row. So it is not considered a match. 
notmatchedsosnotexcluded.png

When I changed the source table so they matched, you can see that the Difference Table now shows that row as excluded.
matchedsoexcluded.png

What is your expected output? That would help in coming up with a solution.

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2 REPLIES 2
m_alireza
Solution Specialist
Solution Specialist

Hi @nitin_bhatnagar ,

In the sample pbix you provided, although the columns are identical in both tables, none of the rows in TABLE (2) match what is in TABLE. Thats why the except is returning all the rows from TABLE (2). 

All the values in the row have to match for it to be excluded. 

for example, in your pbix file, even though column3 in TABLE has ijk and Column 3 in Table(2) has ijk, column1 and column2 of TABLE dont match what is in TABLE (2) for that same row. So it is not considered a match. 
notmatchedsosnotexcluded.png

When I changed the source table so they matched, you can see that the Difference Table now shows that row as excluded.
matchedsoexcluded.png

What is your expected output? That would help in coming up with a solution.

Thanks. That does explain why it is behaving absurdly. Now I can fiddle around with my orginial pbix. Regards.

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