Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Register now to learn Fabric in free live sessions led by the best Microsoft experts. From Apr 16 to May 9, in English and Spanish.

Reply
Absalon29
Helper III
Helper III

Replacing text

I have a country column which is abbreviated to ZA (for South Africa) etc, how do I create a new column with the full name of the countries rather than the abbreviated name (the abbreviation is only two letters long). 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Well, I am assuming that you have many different countries involved here. If that is not the case and everything is just ZA, then just create a column with the formula:

 

Column = "South Africa"

Otherwise, if you do have some additional countries, you could use a SWITCH statement:

 

=SWITCH([Country], 

     "ZA", "South America", 
     "US", "United States
)

But, in my opinion, creating an Enter Data query that supplies the translations is better than a SWITCH statement as it is more obvious, maintanable and requires no code.


@ me in replies or I'll lose your thread!!!
Instead of a Kudo, please vote for this idea
Become an expert!: Enterprise DNA
External Tools: MSHGQM
YouTube Channel!: Microsoft Hates Greg
Latest book!:
The Definitive Guide to Power Query (M)

DAX is easy, CALCULATE makes DAX hard...

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3
Greg_Deckler
Super User
Super User

I would create a translation table, relate the tables and if you really need that column in your first table use RELATED or LOOKUPVALUE.


@ me in replies or I'll lose your thread!!!
Instead of a Kudo, please vote for this idea
Become an expert!: Enterprise DNA
External Tools: MSHGQM
YouTube Channel!: Microsoft Hates Greg
Latest book!:
The Definitive Guide to Power Query (M)

DAX is easy, CALCULATE makes DAX hard...

I'm not sure I follow you (I'm relative novice). Can't I just add a column which tranlate ZA into South Africa. Can you explain what a translation table is?

Well, I am assuming that you have many different countries involved here. If that is not the case and everything is just ZA, then just create a column with the formula:

 

Column = "South Africa"

Otherwise, if you do have some additional countries, you could use a SWITCH statement:

 

=SWITCH([Country], 

     "ZA", "South America", 
     "US", "United States
)

But, in my opinion, creating an Enter Data query that supplies the translations is better than a SWITCH statement as it is more obvious, maintanable and requires no code.


@ me in replies or I'll lose your thread!!!
Instead of a Kudo, please vote for this idea
Become an expert!: Enterprise DNA
External Tools: MSHGQM
YouTube Channel!: Microsoft Hates Greg
Latest book!:
The Definitive Guide to Power Query (M)

DAX is easy, CALCULATE makes DAX hard...

Helpful resources

Announcements
Microsoft Fabric Learn Together

Microsoft Fabric Learn Together

Covering the world! 9:00-10:30 AM Sydney, 4:00-5:30 PM CET (Paris/Berlin), 7:00-8:30 PM Mexico City

PBI_APRIL_CAROUSEL1

Power BI Monthly Update - April 2024

Check out the April 2024 Power BI update to learn about new features.

April Fabric Community Update

Fabric Community Update - April 2024

Find out what's new and trending in the Fabric Community.