Introduction

Power Query is a powerful data connectivity and data transformative tool in Excel and Power BI. It is used to filter, combine, and mash-up data from one or more supported data sources.

Connecting to a folder lets users combine data from multiple files for streamlined data analysis.transformation

Setting up Power Query in Excel

To use power query, you must have Microsoft Excel installed on your PC or desktop. Excel 2016 + users have power query available by default under the Data tab, while older versions of Excel (2010 and 2013) require users to install the power query add-in.

You can get your Microsoft Excel + Office 365here!

Steps to Connecting to a Folder in Power Query in Excel.

1. Open your Excel workbook

Launch Excel and open the workbook where you want to import data. You can access the link to the workbook used in this article here!

2. Access Power Query

Go to the Data tab in Excel, click on Get Data, then From File, and select From Folder.

3. Select the folder

A file explorer window will open, prompting you to select a folder. Navigate to the folder containing the file you want to import and click Open.

4. Preview the files

After selecting the folder, Power Query will display a list of all files. Use this preview to confirm you have selected the correct folder. Click OK to get to the next phase.

5. Combine and load data

Click on Combine in the Power Query interface. Excel will ask how to combine the files (e.g., by selecting specific sheets or tables within each file). Follow the prompts, and then click Combine & Load to load the data into Excel.

6. Data Loaded in Excel

After clicking on combined & load from the previous step, the data will take a few seconds to load completely into the Excel workbook.

Here you can transform for data and generate the insights you desire. The steps carried out in the data transformation are saved automatically.

Conclusion

Power Query makes data consolidation easier by enabling users to quickly and easily merge several files from a folder into a single, consistent dataset. Preprocessing is greatly reduced when users employ extensive transformation tools to clean, filter, and shape data during import. Power Query is a crucial tool for handling complicated data sets in Excel since it enhances workflow, lowers errors, and boosts productivity by combining data into a single source.

By following these steps and incorporating the suggested tips, you can create a comprehensive and informative article on connecting to folders in Power Query.

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