Collect, Combine, and Transform Data Using Power Query in Excel and Power BI, First Edition

CHAPTER 9Introduction to the Power Query M Formula Language

You make ‘em, I amuse ‘em.

—Dr. Seuss

IN THIS CHAPTER, YOU WILL

• Learn the maturity stages in learning M

• Learn about online and offline resources for learning M

• Explore the main building blocks of the M language, including the let expression

• Understand the main operators and built-in functions for the types in M, including number, time, date, duration, text, null, and logical

• Learn how to build conditions and if expressions

• Understand how to define and invoke custom functions

• Learn how to programmatically handle errors

• Learn how to iterate over a loop to achieve complex transformations and how to use recursions and advanced list functions

M is the Power Query formula language that ...