split values into multiple rows

[fskhalasm]

Hi,

can you help me with following task?

I have data like this:

1, A;B;C, X;Y;Z, 2, 3, 7

and I need to get:

1, A, X, 2, 3, 7

1, B, Y, 2, 3, 7

1, C, Z, 2, 3, 7

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Thank.

Marian

[Baskar]

I have data like this:

1, A;B;C, X;Y;Z, 2, 3, 7

It was in Sinlge cell ?

[fskhalasm]

No, not in one cell,

It is comma separated - each comma one cell:

• first cell contains 1
• second cell contains A;B;C
• third cell contains X;Y;Z
• fourth cell contains 2
• etc...

There are of course many rows, this is just one row example.

M.

[Baskar]

Cool, 

We can do using Power Query, but am not sure it is better way.

My point is we can do everything . Folllow the images step by step .

Your Data etSplit the two column by ( ; )Merge two column like the Example.After merge the three column by ( , )Choose that three column and click Unpivot itRemove Attribute columnSplit the value by ( , )Final Output

Let me know if it is not helping u.

Note : 

  these all steps u have to do in Query Editor window

[fskhalasm]

Thanks for you suggestion it can help me a bit.

The thing is that the semicomma separated values (A;B;C) are not always three in each row (can be two, three, four, etc - theoretically any count):

1, A;B;C, X;Y;Z, 2, 3, 7

5, A;B;C;D, V;X;Y;Z, 5, 3, 6

2, A;B, Y;Z, 4, 1, 6

[ImkeF · Accepted solution]

Add a custom column with this formula:

= Table.AddColumn(Source, "Custom", each Table.FromColumns({Text.Split([Column2], ";"), Text.Split([Column3], ";")}))

and then expand the resulting table.

Where Column2 and Column3 are the names of the columns who have multiple values in them and Source is the name of the previous step or the name of your query that you're referencing.

Edit 2018-10-31: You can also use this more generic function, that saves some typing when using multiple columns:

(Table as table, Delimiter as text, ListOfColumnNames) =>

Table.AddColumn(Table, 
		"TableFromColumns", 
		each Table.FromColumns(List.Transform(ListOfColumnNames, 
						      (x) => Text.Split(Record.Field(_, x),                                                                                                    
							  	        Delimiter))))

[VEG_Admin]

@ImkeF can you clarify how the generic solution below works.  I don't see a way to identify the delimiter type, #(lf) in my case, and for whatever reason when I paste this into PBI it is hitting a syntax error in the middle of the first "delimiter".   I have about 40 columns of data that this is the perfect solution for, would love any help you can provide.

Thanks!

[ImkeF]

@VEG_Admin ,

it shouldn't return errors. Please check this code:

let

    MyFunction = (Table as table, Delimiter as text, ListOfColumnNames) =>
                    Table.AddColumn(Table, 
                            "TableFromColumns", 
                            each Table.FromColumns(List.Transform(ListOfColumnNames, 
                                                (x) => Text.Split(Record.Field(_, x),                                                                                                    
                                                            Delimiter)))),
    Source = Table.FromRows(Json.Document(Binary.Decompress(Binary.FromText("DcinAQAwDAOwX4xDOnnnE3Fe8P+wFZQ7EpWpAsOgJrUQ5qhUo/rfTR3qIuIB", BinaryEncoding.Base64), Compression.Deflate)), let _t = ((type text) meta [Serialized.Text = true]) in type table [Column1 = _t, Column2 = _t]),
    Custom1 = MyFunction(Source, "(#)#(lf)", {"Column1", "Column2"} )
in
    Custom1

[powerbi_seek]

Hello Imkef,

After a while, I need to implement your solution, but don't know where and how.

I m on "Import Data", and I have only one multiple values column to split. Can you please help ?

Regards

[ImkeF]

Please have a look at this video which shows how to integrate M-code into your solution:

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Webinars-and-Video-Gallery/Power-BI-Forum-Help-How-to-integrate-M-c...

[fskhalasm]

Thanks Imke, this works perfectly