Excel Power Pivot and Power Query For Dummies

Chapter 11

Making Queries Work Together

In This Chapter

Reusing query steps

Consolidating data with the Append feature

Understanding join types

Using the Merge feature

Data is frequently analyzed in layers, with each layer of analysis using or building on the previous layer. You may not know it, but you already build layers all the time. For instance, when you build a pivot table using the results of a Power Query output, you’re layering your analysis. When you build a query based on a table created by a SQL Server view, you’re also creating a layered analysis.

Sure, you would probably love to be able to analyze a single data source and call it a day. But that’s not how data analysis works. You often find the need to build queries on top of other queries to get the results you’re looking for. That’s what this chapter is all about. In this chapter, I help you examine a few ways you can advance your data analysis by making your queries work together.

Reusing Query Steps

Data analysts commonly rely on the same main data tables for all kinds of analysis. Even the simple table shown ...