Getting your data type right
When you create your query, one of the most important steps in the transformation process is to ensure that you have the correct data type for each column. At the top-left corner of each column, there is an icon that allows you to change the data type. The following data types are available:
Figure 3.8 – List of data types in Power Query
Based on the settings in your Power Query, some data transformations are automatically done for some columns. When this happens, Power Query records this as a step in the Applied Steps list of the editor. An example of this is shown in the following figure:
Figure 3.9 – Automatic transformation using Changed Type
In this example query, all our data types have been applied correctly apart from Birthdate. The correct format for the content of that column should be a date.
To do this, we do the following:
- Select the format icon on the column...