Power Query provides a powerful data import and transformation experience across tools like Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Analysis Services, and other Microsoft platforms including Fabric, Power BI Service, Power Apps, and Microsoft 365 Customer Insights. It enables users to connect, combine, and reshape data from multiple sources, with all data mashups expressed using the Power Query M Formula Language.

This session introduces M as the core code behind Power Query, either written manually or automatically generated through the user interface. Participants will learn how to write M code manually (beyond the interface many users rely on), while covering key programming concepts such as data types, expressions, conditional logic, iterations, functions, advanced data manipulation, and error handling techniques. The webinar is suitable for anyone working with data who wants to build efficient, automated, and scalable data transformation solutions.

Why Should You Attend

Most data professionals rely heavily on the Power Query user interface, which can limit flexibility when handling complex data scenarios. This webinar will empower attendees to go beyond the interface by learning how to write M code manually, giving them full control over data transformations. By understanding the logic behind Power Query, participants will be able to automate repetitive tasks, handle advanced data challenges, and build more efficient and scalable solutions. Ultimately, the main reason to attend is to unlock the true power of Power Query and significantly enhance your data processing and analytics capabilities in tools like Microsoft Excel and Power BI.

Area Covered

• Introduction to Power Query and the role of M language in data transformation
• Understanding how M code is generated from the Power Query user interface
• Writing and editing M code manually for greater flexibility and control
• Core M language concepts: syntax, expressions, and evaluation model
• Working with data types: text, numbers, dates, logical, lists, records, and tables
• Conditional statements and logical operations in M
• Creating and managing variables and step-by-step transformations
• Iteration techniques using functions like List.Transform, List.Accumulate, and List.Generate
• Designing and using custom functions for reusable transformations
• Advanced data manipulation: filtering, grouping, appending, merging, and reshaping data (pivoting/ unpivoting/ transposing etc)
• Error handling techniques and debugging M code

Best practices for building efficient, scalable, and maintainable Power Query solutions in Microsoft Excel and Power BI

Learning Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of the Power Query M Formula Language and its role in data transformation within Microsoft Excel and Power BI
• Learn how to read, interpret, and manually write M code beyond the Power Query user interface
• Gain a solid understanding of core programming concepts in M, including data types, expressions, and variables
• Apply conditional logic and control flow to handle dynamic data transformation scenarios
• Implement iteration techniques and work with lists, records, and tables effectively
• Design and use custom functions to create reusable and efficient data transformation logic
• Perform advanced data manipulation techniques to clean, reshape, and combine datasets from multiple sources
• Apply error handling techniques to build robust and reliable data transformation workflows

Who Will Benefit?

• Data Analysts
• Business Analysts
• Data Scientists
• Business Intelligence (BI) Analysts / Developers
• Reporting and Analytics Professionals
• ETL Developers and Data Engineers
• Finance Analysts and Financial Modelers
• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialists
• MIS (Management Information Systems) Officers
• Database Developers and Data Management Specialists
• Power BI Developers and Excel Power Users (working with Microsoft Excel and Power BI)

Anyone responsible for data cleaning, transformation, and preparation for reporting or decision-making