Power Query Training for Data Scrubbing Methods
Data scrubbing, also known as data cleaning or data cleansing, is the process of identifying and correcting or removing inaccurate or incomplete data. It is an essential step in data analysis, as clean and accurate data is crucial for making informed decisions. Power Query, a feature in Microsoft Excel and Power BI, is a powerful tool for data scrubbing. In this article, we will explore some of the methods and techniques for data scrubbing using Power Query.
Getting Started with Power Query
Power Query is a powerful data transformation and cleansing tool that is available in Microsoft Excel and Power BI. It allows users to clean and transform data from a variety of sources, including Excel tables, CSV files, SQL databases, and more. To get started with Power Query, follow these steps:
1. Open Microsoft Excel or Power BI.
2. Click on the “Data” tab.
3. Click on “Get Data” and select the data source that you want to use.
4. Use the Power Query Editor to transform and clean your data.
Removing Duplicates
Duplicate data can be a significant problem in datasets, as it can lead to inaccurate analyses and results. Power Query makes it easy to remove duplicates from your data. To remove duplicates, follow these steps:
1. Select the column or columns that you want to check for duplicates.
2. Click on the “Remove Duplicates” button in the “Data Tools” tab.
3. Choose the column or columns that you want to remove duplicates from.
4. Click “OK” to remove the duplicates.
Filtering Data
Filtering data is an essential step in data scrubbing, as it allows you to remove unwanted data and focus on the data that is relevant to your analysis. Power Query makes it easy to filter data based on a variety of criteria, including text, dates, and numerical values. To filter data in Power Query, follow these steps:
1. Select the column that you want to filter.
2. Click on the “Filter” button in the “Data Tools” tab.
3. Choose the criteria that you want to filter by.
4. Click “OK” to apply the filter.
Splitting Columns
In some cases, your data may be stored in a single column, but you may want to split it into multiple columns for analysis. Power Query makes it easy to split columns based on a variety of criteria, including text, dates, and numerical values. To split columns in Power Query, follow these steps:
1. Select the column that you want to split.
2. Click on the “Split Column” button in the “Transform” tab.
3. Choose the criteria that you want to split by.
4. Click “OK” to split the column.
Merging Columns
In some cases, you may have data that is split across multiple columns, but you may want to merge it into a single column for analysis. Power Query makes it easy to merge columns based on a variety of criteria, including text, dates, and numerical values. To merge columns in Power Query, follow these steps:
1. Select the columns that you want to merge.
2. Click on the “Merge Columns” button in the “Transform” tab.
3. Choose the delimiter that you want to use to separate the merged data.
4. Click “OK” to merge the columns.
Replacing Values
In some cases, you may need to replace values in your dataset. For example, you may need to replace a misspelled name or a numerical value that is out of range. Power Query makes it easy to replace values based on a variety of criteria, including text, dates, and numerical values. To replace values in Power Query, follow these steps:
1. Select the column that you want to replace values in.
2. Click on the “Replace Values” button in the “Transform” tab.
3. Choose the value that you want to replace and the value that you want to replace it with.
4. Click “OK” to replace the values.
Conclusion
Power Query is a powerful tool for data scrubbing and cleansing. It allows users to clean and transform data from a variety of sources and remove inaccurate or incomplete data. By using the methods and techniques outlined in this article, you can ensure that your data is clean, accurate, and ready for analysis.