How to Combine Multiple Input Tables in Excel Using Power Query

Power Query is a powerful tool in Excel that allows users to combine multiple input tables into a single output table. This process is essential for data integration and analysis. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this in Excel using Power Query.

Step 1: Load Your Tables into Power Query

Power Query is a feature within Excel that allows you to manipulate and load data from various sources. This step involves loading your tables into Power Query for further processing.

Open Excel.

Go to the Data tab.

Click on Get Data.

Select From Other Sources, then choose Blank Query. This will open Power Query Editor.

Alternatively, if your tables are already in the workbook:

Select any cell within the table. Go to the Data tab and click on From Table/Range.

Step 2: Combine the Tables

Once your tables are loaded into Power Query, it's time to combine them based on a common column or simply append them.

In the Power Query Editor, if you have multiple tables already loaded:

Go to the Home tab. Click on Append Queries.

Append Queries as New. This will allow you to combine tables without overwriting the original data.

If you want to join tables based on a common column:

Go to the Home tab. Click on Merge Queries. Select the two tables to merge, and specify the common columns to join on. Choose the type of join (e.g. Inner, Outer, Left, Right) based on your requirements.

Step 3: Transform Your Data (Optional)

After combining the tables, you can perform various transformations such as filtering, sorting, or adding calculated columns. These transformations can be done using the options available in the Power Query Editor.

Step 4: Load the Combined Data into Excel

To finalize the process, click on Close Load in the Home tab. You will have the option to load the data to a new worksheet or an existing one.

Example of Combining Tables

Suppose you have two tables named Sales and Returns where OrderID is the common column. Here’s what you need to do:

Use the Merge Queries option in Power Query Editor.

Select Sales as the first table and Returns as the second table.

Choose OrderID as the matching column.

Select the type of join (e.g. Left Outer join) based on your needs. This will bring in all records from the Sales table and the matching records from the Returns table.

Additional Tips

Always make sure your tables have headers for better identification when merging. Consider creating a dedicated query that can be refreshed as data changes if you frequently combine these tables. Using Power Query is a powerful way to handle complex data combinations in Excel, allowing for efficient data manipulation and analysis.

By following these steps, you can effectively combine multiple input tables in Excel using Power Query, making data integration and analysis a breeze. Happy querying!