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List.Zip is Genius, Here's Why

List.Zip is Genius, Here's Why

Mastering the Art of Dynamic Column Renaming with Power Query's List.Zip

Miss Microsoft
January 03, 2024

Happy New Year Data Wizards! 🎉

As we step into this new year, I hope it brings you heaps of health, wealth, joy, and of course, impeccably clean data! That being said, have you ever stumbled upon a function so clever, it transforms a complex task into a breeze? That's exactly what List.Zip in Power Query does! Often overlooked, this function is a hidden gem in the world of data manipulation. Today, we're diving into one of the reasons why List.Zip deserves a standing ovation.

💡Today's Goal: Seamlessly rename multiple columns in your dataset and explore the power of List.Zip.

📣 Your Voice Matters!

But before we delve into today’s topic, I'm always looking to bring you the most valuable and engaging content. But here's the thing – I want to tailor my Power Query courses specifically to your needs and interests. What topics are you eager to learn about? What Power Query challenges do you face that you'd like me to address in my upcoming courses?

Hit 'Reply' to this newsletter and let me know your thoughts. Your input is crucial in shaping content that truly resonates with you and helps you grow in your data journey. I'm all ears and can't wait to hear from you!

🔍 The Renaming Column Dream

List.Zip is a sleek and efficient approach for renaming multiple columns. It makes your code cleaner and less prone to errors.

By separating the old and new names into different lists, you can clearly see and manage the names. If you need to rename many columns, this method scales beautifully. You only have to add the new names to your list, and List.Zip handles the pairing.

💭 How does it work?

We’re starting with a simple dataset in our “Source” step. Our goal is to rename its columns using List.Zip and Table.RenameColumns.

Please click here to download the practice file.

Our desired end result is our table with the new column names 👇:

Once your Source table is loaded, follow the steps below 👇:

🧩 The Syntax:

List.Zip takes two lists as arguments:

👉The first list contains the current column names of your table as a list.

👉The second list consists of the new names you wish to assign as a list.

Table.RenameColumns takes two main arguments:

👉The first is the name of the table for which you want to rename the column headers.

👉The second is a list of pairs, each pair is made up of two elements: the old column name and the new column name.

And that's how List.Zip brings simplicity to renaming columns in Power Query. It’s especially handy when dealing with numerous columns or when you need to standardize column names across different tables.

I would love to hear if you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please hit reply and let me know:

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Are there other Power Query features you'd like to explore? Share your thoughts and let's delve deeper into the world of data transformation together!