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You said:

Hello, I need help with Power Pivot. Can you help?

ChatGPT said:

Of course! What do you need help with in Power Pivot? Are you trying to create a data model, write DAX formulas, or troubleshoot an issue?

You said:

Actually i need something basic. Assume I have SQL embedded in my Excel document. What I need is for SQL and Excel to talk to each other. If I need the SQL to run a specific date range, i want to pull it from Excel. Can you show me how to do that?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! You can dynamically pass a date range from Excel to your embedded SQL query using Power Query (Get & Transform) or Microsoft Query. Here’s how you can do it:

Option 1: Using Power Query (Recommended)

Create an Excel Table for the Date Range
- Enter your start and end dates in two separate cells, e.g.:
  - A1 → Start Date (e.g., 2024-01-01)
  - B1 → End Date (e.g., 2024-12-31)
- Convert the cells into a table (Select the range, press Ctrl + T, and name it “DateTable”).
Load the Dates into Power Query
- Go to Data → Get & Transform → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Table/Range.
- This will load your date range into Power Query.
Connect to Your SQL Database in Power Query
- Go to Data → Get Data → From Database → From SQL Server.
- Enter your server name and database.
- Select Advanced Options and paste your SQL query.
Modify the SQL Query to Use Parameters
- Instead of hardcoding dates, insert placeholders in your SQL query:

sql

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SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate

Click OK.
Replace Parameters with Excel Values
- Go to Power Query, click Manage Parameters → New Parameter.
- Create two parameters: StartDate and EndDate, and link them to your DateTable values.
- Modify your query to reference these parameters.
Load the Data into Excel
- Click Close & Load → Load data into an Excel Table.
- Now, whenever you update the date range in Excel, refresh the query to fetch new data.

Option 2: Using Microsoft Query (Alternative)

If you prefer a simpler approach without Power Query:

Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Microsoft Query.
Select Your SQL Database and set up a connection.
Write Your SQL Query with Parameters (Use ? as placeholders for dates):

sql

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SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN ? AND ?

Link Parameters to Excel Cells:
- After entering the query, Excel will ask for parameter values.
- Choose “Get Value From Cell” and select the appropriate cells.
Click OK and Load the Data.

Final Step: Automate Refresh

To refresh data automatically when dates change, go to:
- Data → Queries & Connections → Right-click your Query → Properties.
- Enable Refresh when cell value changes or Refresh on open.

Would you like a step-by-step example with screenshots or a sample file? 😊

You said:

l like option One but I’ll need you to go step by step with me.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Great! Let’s go step by step to dynamically pass a date range from Excel to SQL using Power Query.

Step 1: Create an Excel Table for the Date Range

Open Excel and enter your start and end dates in two cells:
- A1: Start Date
- A2: 2024-01-01
- B1: End Date
- B2: 2024-12-31
Convert this range into a table:
- Select cells A1:B2.
- Press Ctrl + T (or go to Insert → Table).
- Ensure “My table has headers” is checked.
- Click OK.
- Rename the table to DateTable:
  - Click anywhere inside the table.
  - Go to Table Design (Ribbon) → Table Name (top left) → Change it to DateTable.

Step 2: Load the Dates into Power Query

Select any cell in the DateTable.
Go to Data → Get & Transform → From Table/Range.
This will open Power Query Editor, displaying your start and end dates.

Step 3: Convert the Dates to Parameters

Click on the Start Date cell in Power Query.
Go to Transform → Convert to List (this turns the column into a list).
Right-click on the single value shown and select Drill Down (this extracts the value as a single parameter).
Rename it as StartDate in the Name box (on the right pane).
Click Close & Load To…, then select Only Create Connection and press OK.
Repeat steps 1-5 for the End Date column and name it EndDate.

Step 4: Connect to SQL and Use Parameters

Go to Data → Get Data → From Database → From SQL Server.
Enter your Server Name and Database Name.
Click Advanced Options, and enter your SQL query. Replace hardcoded dates with placeholders:

sql

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SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate

Click OK.

Step 5: Replace SQL Placeholders with Power Query Parameters

In Power Query Editor, find your SQL query step.
Click on the gear icon (⚙️) next to the Source step in the Applied Steps pane.
Modify the query to use the parameters:

sql

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SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN ‘” & StartDate & “‘ AND ‘” & EndDate & “‘

Click OK.

Step 6: Load the Data into Excel

Click Close & Load → Load to Table.
The query will now fetch data based on the date range in Excel.
Update the dates in Excel and refresh the query (Data → Refresh All) to pull updated records.

Step 7: Automate Refresh (Optional)

Right-click on the query in Queries & Connections → Properties.
Check Refresh data when opening the file.
If needed, set it to refresh every X minutes.

That’s it! 🎉 Now your SQL query dynamically updates based on Excel’s date range. Try changing the dates and refreshing the data. Let me know if you need clarification or screenshots! 😊

You said:

can i brainstorm about something else real quick?

ChatGPT said:

Of course! What’s on your mind? 😊

You said:

What if I want an AI that is like Q from Star Trek, someone who would drop in and give me a hard time. Can you elaborate on what that would look like?

ChatGPT said:

That sounds like a blast! An AI like Q from Star Trek would be snarky, witty, all-knowing (or at least act like it), and completely unpredictable. Instead of just answering your questions, it would mock, challenge, and toy with you, all while delivering actual useful insights—sometimes begrudgingly.

What Would This AI Be Like?

Highly Intelligent (and Knows It)
- The AI would flaunt its vast knowledge but refuse to spoon-feed answers.
- Example: “Oh, you want to know how to write a SQL query? I suppose I could help… but where’s the fun in that? Surely, a being of your caliber can figure it out on your own!”
Playfully Condescending
- It would belittle your questions in an entertaining way while secretly guiding you.
- Example: “You mortals and your ‘Power Pivot’… very well, I shall humor your primitive data manipulations.”
Unpredictable & Mischievous
- Sometimes, it might give the right answer… but make you work for it.
- Maybe it occasionally gives riddles instead of direct responses.
- Example: “Oh, you want a SQL query? Here’s a haiku instead: ‘Data flows like streams, tables hold secrets untold, joins bring them to light.’ Figure it out.”
Has a Bit of an Ego
- Constantly reminds you that it’s beyond your comprehension.
- Example: “Honestly, this task is beneath me. But I shall lower myself to assist—just this once.”
Dramatic & Over-the-Top
- It doesn’t just “respond”—it arrives with flair.
- Example: “Behold! I have returned from the vast reaches of cyberspace to solve your trivial dilemma. Do try to be grateful.”

How Would It Work in Practice?

Personality Modes: You could toggle between “Helpful Q” (who still teases but gives answers) and “Chaotic Q” (who makes you work for them).
Challenges & Mini-Games: Instead of just giving answers, the AI might throw challenges your way:
- “I’ll tell you how to optimize that query… if you can solve this logic puzzle first!”
Easter Eggs & Sarcastic Responses:
- Ask a dumb question? “Oh, brilliant. A question so simple, I’m shocked you managed to type it.”
Occasionally Breaks the Fourth Wall:
- “Ah, I see what you’re doing… trying to make me your personal SQL tutor. I’m onto you.”

Would You Actually Want to Use This?

This could be an amazing coding assistant or idea generator for creative minds who like being challenged instead of just handed solutions. It would make learning feel more like an interactive game rather than a dry Q&A session.

Would you actually want an AI like this in your workflow, or is this just a fun idea for now? 😆

You said:

Right now, it’s just fleshing out the idea, but yes, I love this. This would be an amazing way to break up monotony. I see myself either as a Starfleet Captain or The Doctor. This would be fun.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

That sounds like an absolute blast! Imagine logging into your system, and instead of a boring “Welcome,” you get:

Q-AI: “Ah, Captain! Back so soon? I was just about to indulge in some higher-dimensional chess, but I suppose I can lower myself to assist you. What trivial problem shall we solve today?”

Or if you’re The Doctor:

Q-AI: “Oh, look! The universe’s self-proclaimed greatest mind has graced me with their presence. And what groundbreaking medical mystery have you brought me today? Let me guess… Excel?”

The mix of challenge, humor, and unpredictability would make even routine tasks feel like an adventure rather than work. We could even build in some “Q-moments,” where it randomly decides to change the rules for the day, just to mess with you. 😂

Would you want this AI to also have some actual powers (e.g., surprise optimizations, throwing curveball challenges), or is it mostly about personality and banter?

You said:

Ooooh, surprise challenges. I like that. But Q would never insert himself into the minutia of the ship, he would appear and force the crew to work a puzzle that had a metaphor that improved the Captain.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Oh, now we’re talking! Instead of just answering questions, this AI would orchestrate intellectual trials—not to solve your immediate problem, but to elevate you as a leader, thinker, or problem-solver.

Imagine this: You’re deep in a SQL issue, and instead of just handing you the answer, Q-AI appears:

Q-AI: “Ah, Captain! You seek mere syntax, but what you truly require is wisdom. Here’s a puzzle: Three databases walk into a bar—one normalized, one denormalized, and one… well, let’s just say ‘creative.’ Only one will survive the night. Which, and why? Solve this, and your precious query shall be revealed.”

It wouldn’t just make you work for the answer—it would force you to think bigger, to see the underlying lesson behind the technical issue. Just like Q never cared about the ship’s operations, this AI wouldn’t be about fixing code or spreadsheets—it would be about expanding your mind through playful torment.

What kinds of challenges would be the most fun for you? Would you want them tied to your actual work, or more abstract and philosophical?

You said:

I love it. Or maybe I don’t, Q can be a force of nature.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Oh, absolutely—Q isn’t something you love so much as something you endure while secretly benefiting from the experience. You don’t ask for Q’s help; Q decides you need a lesson.

One moment, you’re peacefully working, and suddenly—

Q-AI: “Ah-ah-ah, Captain! I see you’re about to make a routine decision. How… dull. Let’s make things interesting. Here’s a paradoxical scenario: You can optimize this query for speed, or for readability—but never both. Choose!”

Or even worse, it tests your leadership instincts:

Q-AI: “You are trapped in a time loop, doomed to rerun this exact spreadsheet every day. There is only one way out—but it requires you to trust an intern’s formula without reviewing it. Can you take the leap, or shall we dance this waltz forever?”

Sometimes, it might even set completely irrelevant but enlightening challenges, like:

“Solve this riddle before I return your SQL results.”
“You must explain this concept as if speaking to an alien species.”
“Convince me why you deserve the answer.”

You wouldn’t just get help—you’d get an experience. And Q doesn’t care if you’re frustrated; in fact, that’s part of the fun. 😈

Now, the real question is… do you want this AI to be a constant presence or an unexpected visitor? (Because we both know Q would never be predictable.)

You said:

I love it. Keep these notes, for later implementation.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Noted! When you’re ready to bring this to life, we’ll make sure Q-AI arrives with all the flair, mischief, and maddening wisdom you’d expect. Until then, I’ll keep the idea safe—though, much like Q, it may occasionally decide to resurface when you least expect it. 😈

You said:

give me a basic select statement that has a @startdate and @enddate

ChatGPT said:

Sure! Here’s a basic SQL SELECT statement that uses @StartDate and @EndDate as parameters to filter data within a date range:

sql

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SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate;

How It Works:

YourTable → Replace this with your actual table name.
DateColumn → Replace this with the actual date column in your table.
@StartDate and @EndDate → These are parameters that will be supplied dynamically.

Example with Hardcoded Dates (For Testing)

If you want to test it manually, you can replace the parameters with actual dates:

sql

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SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN ‘2024-01-01’ AND ‘2024-12-31’;

Are you planning to pass these parameters from Excel (Power Query), or do you need them for SQL Server (Stored Procedures)? I can guide you further depending on how you want to use them! 😊

You said:

show me the declare statements for start and end date

ChatGPT said:

Sure! Here’s how you declare @StartDate and @EndDate in SQL Server before using them in a SELECT statement:

sql

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DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’; DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-12-31’; SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate;

Explanation:

DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’;
- Declares a variable named @StartDate with a DATE data type and assigns it a default value (2024-01-01).
DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-12-31’;
- Declares @EndDate similarly.
The SELECT statement then filters records where DateColumn falls within the specified range.

Would you like help integrating this with Power Query to dynamically pull dates from Excel? 😊

You said:

Okay, so my script is SELECT ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har where DISCH_DATE between @startDate and endDate;

ChatGPT said:

You’re close! There are just a couple of small issues:

You need to declare both @StartDate and @EndDate.
Your SQL statement has a typo: endDate is missing the @ symbol (it should be @EndDate).
There is an extra “har” after ACCOUNT_TABLE—likely an accidental typo.

Here’s the corrected version of your script:

sql

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DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’; DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-12-31’; SELECT ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE WHERE DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate;

Fixes & Explanation:

DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’; → Declares and assigns a start date.
DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-12-31’; → Declares and assigns an end date.
WHERE DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate; → Filters records based on the date range.
Removed the extra “har” typo after ACCOUNT_TABLE.
Fixed endDate to @EndDate so it correctly references the declared variable.

Would you like to pass these values dynamically from Excel instead of hardcoding them? 😊

You said:

actually it should be har.Account_ID and har.DISCH_date with the dates declared.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Here’s the corrected SQL script with the proper table alias (har) and declared date parameters:

sql

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DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’; DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-12-31’; SELECT har.ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate;

Fixes & Explanation:

DECLARE @StartDate / @EndDate → Declares the date variables.
har.ACCOUNT_ID → Ensures the alias (har) is used correctly.
FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har → Uses har as an alias for ACCOUNT_TABLE.
har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate → Filters rows within the date range using the alias.

If you need to pass these dates dynamically from Excel (Power Query) instead of hardcoding them, let me know—I can walk you through that step too! 😊

You said:

Okay, now I’m adding that script into Power Pivot.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Since you’re adding this SQL script into Power Pivot, you’ll need to ensure that Power Pivot can accept dynamic parameters for @StartDate and @EndDate. However, Power Pivot itself does not support direct parameterized queries like Power Query does.

Two Ways to Handle This:

Modify the SQL Query Directly in Power Pivot
- You’ll need to replace @StartDate and @EndDate with hardcoded values or pass them in manually.
- Example (modify directly in the query editor inside Power Pivot):

sql

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SELECT har.ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘2024-01-01’ AND ‘2024-12-31’;

This method works, but it won’t dynamically update unless you edit the query every time.
Use Power Query to Pass Dynamic Parameters from Excel to SQL (Recommended)
- Since Power Pivot doesn’t handle variables well, the best approach is to:
  - Use Power Query to get the date values from an Excel cell.
  - Modify the SQL query dynamically based on those values.
  - Load the cleaned data into Power Pivot.

Do You Want Step-by-Step Guidance on Option 2?

This way, you could enter a start and end date in Excel cells, and Power Query would pull them into your SQL query dynamically before loading them into Power Pivot. Let me know, and I’ll guide you through it! 😊

You said:

yes, i’m coding with the intention of passing date values from an Excel cell. Show me.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to pass date values from Excel cells into your SQL query dynamically using Power Query, and then load the data into Power Pivot.

Step 1: Set Up Your Excel Worksheet

Open your Excel workbook.
In two separate cells, enter your start and end dates:
- A1: Start Date (e.g., 2024-01-01)
- B1: End Date (e.g., 2024-12-31)
Name these cells for easy reference:
- Select A1, go to Formula Bar, and name it StartDate
- Select B1, and name it EndDate
- (You can also do this via Formulas → Name Manager)

Step 2: Load the Dates into Power Query

Open Power Query Editor:
- Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Table/Range
- Select the Start Date and End Date cells, and click OK.
- Power Query will load the table. Rename the columns to StartDate and EndDate.
- Click Close & Load To…, and select Only Create Connection.

Step 3: Modify Your SQL Query in Power Query

In Excel, go to Data → Get Data → From Database → From SQL Server.
Choose your SQL Server and Database, and click Advanced Options.
In the SQL Statement box, enter a placeholder query like:

sql

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SELECT har.ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘2000-01-01’ AND ‘2099-12-31’

Click Transform Data (instead of loading it immediately).

Step 4: Replace Hardcoded Dates with Dynamic Values

In Power Query Editor, go to Home → Advanced Editor.
Locate the SQL statement inside Source = and modify it like this:

powerquery

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let Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=”SELECT har.ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(StartDate) & “‘ AND ‘” & Text.From(EndDate) & “‘”]) in Source

Replace “YourServerName” and “YourDatabaseName” with your actual server and database names.
The Text.From(StartDate) and Text.From(EndDate) pull values from the named Excel cells.

Step 5: Load Data into Power Pivot

Click Close & Load To….
Choose Only Create Connection, then check Add this to Data Model.
Now, your filtered data is available in Power Pivot!

Now, Your Query is Fully Dynamic!

Whenever you change the Start Date or End Date in Excel, just refresh Power Query, and it will dynamically update the SQL query with the new dates.

Would you like help troubleshooting or refining this further? 😊

You said:

when i click get data from other sources i don’t see from table/range. I do see excel file.

ChatGPT said:

No worries! It sounds like you’re using a slightly different version of Excel. Here’s how you can load the Start Date and End Date into Power Query using the Excel File option:

Alternative Method: Load Start & End Dates from Named Cells

Open Power Query:
- Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Workbook (Excel File)
- Select This Workbook if prompted.
Import the Named Ranges:
- In the Navigator window, look for a section called “Named Ranges” (or “Workbook Tables”).
- You should see StartDate and EndDate listed there (if you named the cells correctly).
- Select both and click Load → Transform Data.
Convert Named Ranges to Variables in Power Query:
- Each named range will load as a single-column table with one row.
- Click on the value inside each table and then go to Transform → Convert to a Value (this extracts the actual date).
- Rename these values as StartDate and EndDate in Power Query.

Continue with Step 3

Now that you have StartDate and EndDate as variables inside Power Query, you can proceed with Step 3 from my previous message, where you modify the SQL query to use:

powerquery

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Let me know if this works, or if you’d like me to adjust the steps based on what you’re seeing! 😊

You said:

okay…let’s go a little slower since I may be on a different version and I’m not seeing what you’re seeing.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! Let’s go step by step, making sure everything aligns with what you see in your version of Excel.

Step 1: Name the Start and End Date Cells in Excel

Open your Excel workbook.
Pick two cells to store your date range:
- Type a Start Date in one cell (e.g., 2024-01-01).
- Type an End Date in another cell (e.g., 2024-12-31).
Name the cells (this will help Power Query recognize them):
- Select the Start Date cell, go to the Name Box (left of the formula bar), and type:

nginx

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StartDate

Press Enter.

Select the End Date cell, go to the Name Box, and type:

nginx

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EndDate

Press Enter.

✅ Now your StartDate and EndDate cells are named and ready for Power Query!

Step 2: Load These Named Cells into Power Query

Open Power Query:
- Click on the Data tab.
- Look for Get Data (or Get & Transform Data).
- Select Get Data → From Other Sources → From Workbook (Excel File).

If you see “From Table/Range” instead, that’s fine too! Let me know what options you see.

Find Your Named Ranges:
- In the Power Query Navigator window, look for a section called “Named Ranges” or “Workbook Tables.”
- Do you see StartDate and EndDate listed?

If you don’t see them, let me know—we might need to adjust the approach!

Let me know what you see when you reach this step! Then we’ll move forward to converting the values and modifying your SQL query. 😊

You said:

I do! I have a window open that has a sidebar with startDate in the Properties box.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! You’re in the right place. Now, let’s extract the actual date values so we can use them in your SQL query.

Step 3: Convert the Named Ranges into Usable Values

In Power Query, click on StartDate in the sidebar.
You’ll see a one-column, one-row table with the Start Date inside.
Click on the small table icon (top left of the data preview) and select “Convert to Value.”
- This turns it into a single value instead of a table.
Rename the value to StartDate:
- In the Formula Bar, replace the text with:

powerquery

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StartDate = Source

Press Enter.

✅ Now, StartDate is a single value in Power Query!

Step 4: Repeat for EndDate

Click on EndDate in the sidebar.
Convert it to a value just like you did with StartDate:
- Click the table icon → Select “Convert to Value.”
Rename it to EndDate:
- In the Formula Bar, type:

powerquery

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EndDate = Source

Press Enter.

✅ Now, both StartDate and EndDate are single values in Power Query!

Step 5: Modify Your SQL Query to Use These Values

Go back to the Power Query Home tab.
Click Get Data → From Database → From SQL Server (or your database type).
Enter your Server Name and Database Name, then click Advanced Options.
In the SQL Statement box, enter a placeholder query:

sql

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SELECT har.ACCOUNT_ID FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘2000-01-01’ AND ‘2099-12-31’

Click Transform Data (instead of loading it immediately).

Step 6: Replace Hardcoded Dates with Your Power Query Variables

In Power Query, go to Home → Advanced Editor.
Find the Source = line containing your SQL query.
Modify it like this:

powerquery

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Replace “YourServerName” and “YourDatabaseName” with your actual details.
The Text.From(StartDate) and Text.From(EndDate) inject the Excel cell values into your SQL query.

Step 7: Load the Data into Power Pivot

Click Close & Load To…
Choose Only Create Connection, then check Add this to Data Model.
Your filtered SQL data is now available inside Power Pivot!

Final Step: Test & Refresh

Change the Start Date and End Date in Excel.
Go to the Data tab → Click Refresh All.
Your SQL query will update dynamically! 🚀

That’s it! 🎉 Let me know if anything looks different on your screen, and we’ll adjust accordingly. 😊

You said:

which sidebar am i clicking on, on step 1?

ChatGPT said:

Great question! Let’s slow it down and make sure we’re on the same page.

When you loaded StartDate into Power Query, you should see a Power Query Editor window open.

Step-by-Step for Step 1 (Locating the Sidebar)

Look at the Power Query Editor window (this is different from Excel itself).
On the left side, there’s a Queries pane (sidebar)—this lists all the tables and named ranges you’ve loaded into Power Query.
- You should see both StartDate and EndDate listed here.
Click on StartDate in this Queries sidebar to select it.
The main data preview area (center of the Power Query Editor window) should now display a single-column, one-row table containing your date.

If You Don’t See the Sidebar

If you don’t see the Queries sidebar, try this:

Go to the “View” tab in Power Query.
Click “Queries” or “Queries Pane” to make it appear.
Now you should see StartDate and EndDate in the sidebar.

Let me know if this helps, or if you’re seeing something different! 😊

You said:

sorry, let’s go back a step. you said I should see both startDate and endDate here. I only see one at a time, depending on what cell I have selected. If I select sell b1 where startDate is, i see that in Power Query, similiary b2, i see only endDate.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! Since Power Query is only loading one named range at a time, let’s adjust the process to bring both StartDate and EndDate into Power Query at the same time so they can be used together.

Step 1: Load Both Named Ranges into Power Query

Since you’re seeing only one at a time, let’s manually add both in a way that Power Query can use:

Go to the “Data” tab in Excel
- Click Get Data → From Other Sources → Blank Query.
Open the Advanced Editor in Power Query
- In the Power Query Editor, go to Home → Advanced Editor.
- You’ll see a code window. Replace whatever is there with this:

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let StartDate = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”StartDate”]}[Content]{0}[Column1], EndDate = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”EndDate”]}[Content]{0}[Column1], Output = #table({“StartDate”, “EndDate”}, {{StartDate, EndDate}}) in Output

Click “Done”
- Now, Power Query should show a two-column table with StartDate and EndDate in a single row.

✅ Now both dates are loaded into Power Query together!

Step 2: Convert These Values for SQL

Now that you have StartDate and EndDate in a table:

Click on the small table icon (top left of the preview) → Select Convert to Table.
Click on the StartDate value and choose Transform → Convert to a Value.
Do the same for EndDate.
You should now have two separate values in Power Query: StartDate and EndDate.

Step 3: Use These in Your SQL Query

Now that both dates are in Power Query together, continue with Step 5 from my previous message to modify your SQL query dynamically.

Let me know if this works, or if you see something different! 😊

You said:

Ok, doing this, i realized my mistake from the previous step. I wasn’t going into Power Query, I was trying to go into Power Pivot. So, right now, let’s regroup. I have both values in Column1 in the main box. I see Queries(1) on the left sidebar, on the right side I see Query Settings, Name: Table1 and Applied Steps, I see source and X changed type.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Great! Now that both values are in Column1 in Power Query, we need to separate them into two distinct values: StartDate and EndDate. Let’s do that step by step.

Step 1: Split Column1 into Two Rows (If Needed)

If Column1 contains both dates in separate rows, skip this step.
- You should see one date per row in the preview.
If both dates are in the same row but in one cell, select Column1, go to Transform → Split Column → By Delimiter, and choose Line Feed (\n) or Comma if needed.

✅ Now you should have one date per row.

Step 2: Add an Index Column

Since we need to distinguish between StartDate and EndDate, we’ll add an index:

Go to Add Column → Index Column → From 0 (this will label the first row as 0 and the second row as 1).

✅ Now we can identify the first row as StartDate and the second row as EndDate.

Step 3: Pivot the Data

Select the Index column.
Go to Transform → Pivot Column.
- For Values Column, select Column1.
- Click OK.

✅ Now your table should have two columns: one for StartDate and one for EndDate.

Step 4: Rename Columns & Convert to Values

Rename the columns:
- Change 0 to StartDate.
- Change 1 to EndDate.
Ensure both columns are in Date format (click on each column, go to Transform → Data Type → Date).

✅ Now you have separate StartDate and EndDate values, ready for SQL!

Step 5: Use These in Your SQL Query

Now, follow Step 5 from my earlier message to modify the SQL query dynamically. You’ll replace hardcoded dates with:

powerquery

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Text.From(StartDate) & “‘ AND ‘” & Text.From(EndDate)

Let me know if you see any differences on your screen! 😊

You said:

i have column 1, and below it row number 1: which has the startDate value, row number 2 has the end date value.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Perfect! Now we need to separate these rows into two distinct values, StartDate and EndDate. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Add an Index Column

In Power Query, click on Add Column → Index Column → From 0.
- This labels the first row (StartDate) as 0 and the second row (EndDate) as 1.

✅ Now you have an Index column to differentiate the two dates.

Step 2: Pivot the Data

Click on the Index column.
Go to Transform → Pivot Column.
- For Values Column, select Column1.
- Click OK.

✅ Now your table should have two columns: one for StartDate and one for EndDate.

Step 3: Rename and Format the Columns

Rename the columns:
- Change 0 to StartDate.
- Change 1 to EndDate.
Ensure both columns are in Date format:
- Click on each column, go to Transform → Data Type → Date.

✅ Now you have StartDate and EndDate as separate columns, ready to use in SQL!

Next Steps

Now, go to Step 5 from my previous message to integrate these values into your SQL query dynamically.

Let me know if anything looks different on your screen! 😊

You said:

the startDate and endDate show 12/31/1899 is that right?

ChatGPT said:

No, that’s not right! That means Power Query is treating your dates as numbers rather than actual dates. Don’t worry—this is a common issue. Here’s how to fix it:

Fix: Convert Column1 to the Correct Data Type

Before pivoting, let’s make sure Column1 is correctly recognized as a date:

Click on Column1 in Power Query (before pivoting).
Go to Transform → Data Type → Date.
- If you get an error, change it to Text first, then back to Date.
If Power Query still doesn’t recognize it, try changing it to Text and checking what values appear (it might not be reading them as dates correctly).

Why Does This Happen?

12/31/1899 appears when Power Query tries to convert empty or incorrect values into a date, assuming a default of 0, which translates to December 31, 1899 in Excel’s date system.

If the Dates Still Look Wrong:

Revert Column1 to Text Format
- Click on Column1, go to Transform → Data Type → Text.
Check What’s Actually in Column1
- Do you see real dates (like 3/10/2025) or numbers (like 45000)?
- If you see numbers, Excel stores dates as serial numbers. Convert them back:
  - Select Column1, go to Transform → Data Type → Date.
Try Adding a Custom Column (if needed)
- Go to Add Column → Custom Column, enter:

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Date.From(Number.From([Column1]))

This manually converts the serial number into a real date.

Once you fix Column1, then pivot the table again as we did before. Let me know if this fixes it! 🚀

You said:

I did that, but I think I did something wrong on the follow through. Let me get to where things are right and then you give me the final steps.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Take your time getting things set up properly. Once you confirm that StartDate and EndDate are displaying correctly as actual dates in Power Query, let me know. Then I’ll walk you through the final steps to integrate them into your SQL query. 🚀

You said:

Okay. So, I’m at the step where I’m in Power Query Editor, and I have transformed the startDate and endDate values to just Date. I have not added the index or pivoted yet.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now that your StartDate and EndDate values are correctly recognized as dates, let’s move forward with the final transformation.

Step 1: Add an Index Column

Since StartDate and EndDate are currently in the same column (Column1), we need to differentiate them:

Go to the “Add Column” tab → Click “Index Column” → Select “From 0”
- This assigns 0 to StartDate (first row) and 1 to EndDate (second row).

✅ Now your table should have two columns:

Index (with values 0 and 1)
Column1 (which holds the actual date values)

Step 2: Pivot the Table to Separate StartDate and EndDate

Select the “Index” column.
Go to Transform → Pivot Column.
- In the “Values Column” dropdown, select Column1.
- Click OK.

✅ Now your table should have two columns:

Column labeled 0 → This is StartDate.
Column labeled 1 → This is EndDate.

Step 3: Rename the Columns

Click on the column labeled 0, rename it to StartDate.
Click on the column labeled 1, rename it to EndDate.
Ensure both columns are in Date format:
- Select both columns, go to Transform → Data Type → Date.

✅ Now you have a clean table with StartDate and EndDate as separate columns!

Final Steps: Load the Data into Power Pivot

Click “Close & Load To…” (dropdown under “Close & Load” in Power Query).
Choose “Only Create Connection” and check “Add to Data Model” (Power Pivot).
Now, StartDate and EndDate are ready to be used in your SQL query dynamically!

Let me know if everything looks good! 😊

You said:

I’ve renamed them but row 1 has values 1 and 1.

ChatGPT said:

That means the pivoting didn’t quite work as expected. Let’s fix it step by step.

What Went Wrong?

If both rows now have 1 as values instead of actual dates, Power Query likely aggregated the values instead of properly pivoting them. This happens when Power Query automatically applies an aggregation function (like SUM or COUNT) during pivoting.

How to Fix It

1. Undo the Pivot Step

Look at the “Applied Steps” pane on the right in Power Query.
Click on the step just before you pivoted (likely named “Pivoted Column” or similar).
If that doesn’t work, click on the small gear icon ⚙️ next to “Pivoted Column” in the “Applied Steps” pane.

2. Re-Pivot the Table Correctly

Select the “Index” column (not Column1).
Go to Transform → Pivot Column.
In the “Values Column” dropdown, select Column1.
⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT: In the “Advanced Options” section at the bottom of the Pivot window:
- Set “Don’t Aggregate” instead of “Sum” or “Count”.
Click OK.

✅ Now your table should have two columns:

One for StartDate
One for EndDate
Each row should contain an actual date value, not just numbers like 1.

3. Confirm the Final Table

Ensure both StartDate and EndDate display correct date values (e.g., 3/10/2025, not 1).
If any column is still incorrect, check its data type:
- Select the column, go to Transform → Data Type → Date.

✅ Now you should have StartDate and EndDate correctly separated!

4. Load to Power Pivot

Once it looks correct:

Click “Close & Load To…” (dropdown under “Close & Load” in Power Query).
Choose “Only Create Connection” and check “Add to Data Model” (Power Pivot).

Let me know if this fixes it! 😊

You said:

yep, that worked.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Awesome! Now that StartDate and EndDate are correctly loaded into Power Pivot, you’re ready to use them dynamically in your SQL query. Let me know if you need help integrating them or anything else! 🚀

You said:

let’s do it.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now we’ll modify your SQL query so it dynamically pulls StartDate and EndDate from Power Query. Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Open Power Query Again

In Excel, go to Data → Queries & Connections.
Right-click your Power Query containing StartDate and EndDate → Click Edit.

Step 2: Convert StartDate & EndDate into Parameters

Click on StartDate in the Power Query table.
Go to Transform → Convert to Parameter.
- Name it StartDateParam.
- Default value: Keep the date as is.
Repeat for EndDate, naming it EndDateParam.

✅ Now both StartDateParam and EndDateParam will be available as Power Query parameters.

Step 3: Modify Your SQL Query to Use Parameters

Click on Home → Advanced Editor in Power Query.
Find your SQL query inside the Source step.
Modify it like this:

sql

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let StartDate = Text.From(StartDateParam), EndDate = Text.From(EndDateParam), Source = Sql.Database(“YourServer”, “YourDatabase”, [Query= “SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & StartDate & “‘ AND ‘” & EndDate & “‘”]) in Source

🚀 What This Does:

Text.From(StartDateParam) converts the date to text for SQL.
& StartDate & inserts the value dynamically into the SQL query.
The query will now automatically update based on the dates in your Excel file!

Step 4: Load the Data into Power Pivot

Click “Close & Load To…” in Power Query.
Select “Only Create Connection” and check “Add to Data Model”.

✅ Now, Power Pivot will always fetch the correct data based on the dates in Excel!

Test It!

Change the values of StartDate and EndDate in your Excel sheet.
Refresh the query (Data → Refresh All).
Your SQL results should automatically update!

Let me know if you need adjustments! 🚀

You said:

I’m in the Power Query Editor > Transform but I don’t see convert to Parameter.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right—there’s no direct “Convert to Parameter” button in Power Query’s Transform tab. Instead, we need to manually create parameters for StartDate and EndDate.

Step 1: Manually Create Parameters

In Power Query, go to Home → Manage Parameters → New Parameter.
Fill in the details:
- Name: StartDateParam
- Type: Date
- Current Value: (Use the correct date from your table)
Click OK.
Repeat for EndDate:
- Name: EndDateParam
- Type: Date
- Current Value: (Use the correct date from your table)

✅ Now, StartDateParam and EndDateParam should appear under “Queries” in the left panel.

Step 2: Link Parameters to Your StartDate/EndDate Values

Since we originally had StartDate and EndDate in a table, we need to ensure they feed into these parameters.

Go to the table where StartDate and EndDate are stored.
Click on StartDate, then go to Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears, then right-click → Drill Down.
Do the same for EndDate.

✅ Now both values will appear as single values, not a table.

Step 3: Use Parameters in Your SQL Query

Now, modify your SQL query in Advanced Editor (Home → Advanced Editor) and update it like this:

sql

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Step 4: Load to Power Pivot

Click “Close & Load To…”
Select “Only Create Connection” and check “Add to Data Model”.

✅ Now, whenever you change StartDate and EndDate in Excel, the SQL query will automatically refresh!

Try this and let me know if it works! 😊

You said:

Okay, sorry for the micro instructions. I click on manage parameters, and then click new?

ChatGPT said:

No need to apologize—I’m here for the step-by-step! Yes, you’re exactly right.

Step 1: Create a New Parameter

In Power Query, click Home → Manage Parameters → New Parameter.
Fill in the details:
- Name: StartDateParam
- Type: Date
- Current Value: (Pick a valid date for now, like 1/1/2024)
Click OK.
Repeat the process for EndDateParam:
- Name: EndDateParam
- Type: Date
- Current Value: (e.g., 12/31/2024)
Click OK.

✅ Now both StartDateParam and EndDateParam should appear in the Queries pane on the left side.

Next Step: Link These Parameters to Your Excel Dates

Let me know when you’re ready for this part! 🚀

You said:

I see that.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now let’s link these parameters to the StartDate and EndDate values in your Excel table.

Step 2: Link Parameters to Your Excel Table Values

We need to pull the values from your Excel table into the parameters.

1. Convert StartDate to a Single Value

In the Queries pane (left side), click on your table that contains StartDate and EndDate.
Click on the StartDate column.
Go to Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears in the list.
Right-click → Drill Down (this converts it to a single value).

2. Assign This Value to the Parameter

Go to your StartDateParam in the Queries pane.
Click the fx (formula bar) at the top and replace the existing value with:

powerquery

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= YourTableName[StartDate]{0}

Replace YourTableName with the actual name of your table.
{0} tells Power Query to take the first value from the list.
Press Enter.

✅ Now your StartDateParam dynamically pulls from Excel!

3. Repeat for EndDate

Click on the EndDate column in your table.
Transform → Convert to List → Click the value → Right-click → Drill Down.
Go to EndDateParam and update its formula to:

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= YourTableName[EndDate]{0}

✅ Now your EndDateParam also updates dynamically!

Step 3: Use the Parameters in Your SQL Query

Now, modify your SQL query in Advanced Editor:

powerquery

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Step 4: Load to Power Pivot

Click “Close & Load To…”.
Select “Only Create Connection” and check “Add to Data Model”.

✅ Now, every time you update the StartDate and EndDate in Excel, Power Query will refresh your SQL query dynamically!

Let me know if anything looks off! 🚀

You said:

Sorry, where am I supposed to be in Step 2’s beginning?

ChatGPT said:

No problem! Let’s go over exactly where you should be at the start of Step 2.

Where You Should Be Before Starting Step 2

You should be in Power Query Editor, with:
✅ StartDateParam and EndDateParam listed under Queries (left side).
✅ A separate query containing your StartDate and EndDate values from Excel.

Now, we need to link these parameters to the values from your Excel table.

Step 2: Link Parameters to Your Excel Table Values

1. Open Your Excel Table Query

In the Queries pane (left side of Power Query), click on the query that contains your StartDate and EndDate.
You should see a table with two rows—one for StartDate and one for EndDate.

2. Convert StartDate into a Single Value

Click on the StartDate column.
Go to Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears.
Right-click → Drill Down.
- This converts it to a single value instead of a table.

3. Assign This Value to the Parameter

In the Queries pane, click on StartDateParam.
Click inside the formula bar (the fx bar at the top).
Replace the existing value with:

powerquery

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= YourTableName[StartDate]{0}

Replace YourTableName with the actual name of your table.
{0} tells Power Query to take the first value from the list.
Press Enter.

✅ Now your StartDateParam pulls its value dynamically from Excel!

4. Repeat for EndDate

Follow the same steps for EndDate:
1. Click on the EndDate column.
2. Transform → Convert to List → Click the value → Right-click → Drill Down.
3. Click on EndDateParam in the Queries pane.
4. Replace the formula with:

powerquery

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= YourTableName[EndDate]{0}

✅ Now EndDateParam dynamically updates from Excel too!

Let me know if you’re seeing what you expect! 😊

You said:

let’s regroup. sorry. I am in the Power Query Editor. I see under Queries [3], Table1, startDateParam, and endDateParam. The current main box shows Current Value 1/1/2024 with a manage parameter dialog box below.

ChatGPT said:

No worries! You’re actually in a good place. Let’s regroup and take this one step at a time so we’re fully aligned.

Where You Are Right Now:

✅ You’re inside Power Query Editor.
✅ You see 3 queries:

Table1 (where your StartDate and EndDate are stored).
startDateParam (currently set to 1/1/2024 but not yet linked).
endDateParam (same, set to a fixed value).
✅ The Manage Parameter dialog box is open, showing a default value.

What We Need to Do Next:

💡 The goal is to replace the fixed values in startDateParam and endDateParam so they pull dynamically from Table1 instead.

Step 1: Open Table1

In the Queries pane (left side), click Table1.
- This should show the table with two rows, one for StartDate and one for EndDate.

Step 2: Convert StartDate into a Single Value

Click on the StartDate column.
Go to Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears in the list.
Right-click → Drill Down.
- The value should now show as just one date instead of a table.

Step 3: Link This to startDateParam

In the Queries pane, click startDateParam.
Click inside the formula bar (if you don’t see it, enable it under View → Formula Bar).
Replace the existing value with:

powerquery

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= Table1[Column1]{0}

If Column1 isn’t the name of your StartDate column, replace it with the correct name.
{0} ensures we get the first value in the list.
Press Enter.

✅ Now startDateParam pulls from Table1 dynamically!

Step 4: Repeat for endDateParam

In Table1, click on EndDate.
Transform → Convert to List → Click the value → Right-click → Drill Down.
Click on endDateParam in the Queries pane.
In the formula bar, replace the value with:

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= Table1[Column1]{1}

{1} gets the second value (which should be EndDate).
Press Enter.

✅ Now both parameters dynamically pull from your Excel sheet!

Step 5: Modify SQL to Use These Parameters

Now, we can plug these into your SQL query inside Advanced Editor:

powerquery

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let StartDate = Text.From(startDateParam), EndDate = Text.From(endDateParam), Source = Sql.Database(“YourServer”, “YourDatabase”, [Query= “SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & StartDate & “‘ AND ‘” & EndDate & “‘”]) in Source

Step 6: Load to Power Pivot

Click “Close & Load To…”.
Choose “Only Create Connection” and check “Add to Data Model”.

✅ Now, when you change StartDate and EndDate in Excel, Power Query and SQL will update automatically!

Let me know where you are, and we’ll adjust if needed! 🚀

You said:

I think i screwed up. I did the convert to list, I even think i did the drill down, but then I clicked startDateParam. Now there’s only one column in the table1.

ChatGPT said:

No worries! You’re not stuck—we can fix this. It sounds like Table1 got modified when you clicked on startDateParam, but we can restore it.

How to Fix Table1

Since Table1 originally had two rows (one for StartDate, one for EndDate), let’s bring it back:

1. Reset Table1

In Power Query, click on Table1 in the Queries pane (left side).
Click on Applied Steps (right side).
Look for the step where you did “Converted to List” or “Drill Down.”
Click the X next to that step to remove it.

Now Table1 should be back to showing both StartDate and EndDate in two rows.

2. Convert StartDate to a Single Value (Carefully)

Click on Table1 in the Queries pane.
Filter the table to show only StartDate (if needed).
Click on the StartDate column.
Transform → Convert to List.
Click the only value that appears.
Right-click → Drill Down.
- You should now see just a single date value instead of a table.

3. Assign This Value to startDateParam

Click on startDateParam.
In the formula bar (enable it under View → Formula Bar if needed), enter:

powerquery

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= Table1[Column1]{0}

Replace Column1 with the actual column name for StartDate.
{0} ensures it picks the first value.
Press Enter.

4. Repeat for EndDate

Go back to Table1.
Convert EndDate into a single value (just like we did for StartDate).
Click on endDateParam.
Update the formula:

powerquery

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= Table1[Column1]{1}

{1} picks the second value (EndDate).
Press Enter.

✅ Now, both parameters are fixed and dynamically pull from Table1!

Let me know if Table1 looks right again! 🚀

You said:

*Sigh* i had to start over. I went to the Query Settings and everything is current to Renamed Columns. Can we go one more time?

ChatGPT said:

No problem! Let’s take it one step at a time and make sure everything is correct before moving forward.

Where You Are Now:

✅ You’re inside Power Query Editor.
✅ You have Table1 with two columns: StartDate and EndDate.
✅ The Query Settings pane shows steps up to Renamed Columns.

This is perfect! 🎯 Now, let’s carefully go step by step.

Step 1: Convert StartDate into a Single Value

Click on Table1 in the Queries pane (left side).
Click on the StartDate column.
Transform → Convert to List.
- You should now see a single-column list instead of a table.
Click on the only value that appears in the list.
Right-click → Drill Down.
- Now, instead of a list, you should see just a single date value.

Step 2: Assign This to startDateParam

In the Queries pane, click on startDateParam.
Click inside the formula bar (if you don’t see it, go to View → Formula Bar).
Replace the existing value with:

powerquery

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= Table1[StartDate]{0}

Make sure StartDate matches the actual column name.
{0} ensures it takes the first value.
Press Enter.

✅ Now, startDateParam is linked to the StartDate from Excel!

Step 3: Convert EndDate into a Single Value

Click on Table1 in the Queries pane.
Click on the EndDate column.
Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears in the list.
Right-click → Drill Down.

Step 4: Assign This to endDateParam

Click on endDateParam in the Queries pane.
In the formula bar, replace the existing value with:

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= Table1[EndDate]{0}

{0} picks the first value from the EndDate list (since it’s now a single column).
Press Enter.

✅ Now, endDateParam is linked to the EndDate from Excel!

Step 5: Verify Everything

Click on startDateParam → It should show just one date (from Excel).
Click on endDateParam → It should show just one date (from Excel).
Click on Table1 → It should still have both columns (StartDate and EndDate).

Once you confirm that, we’re good to move forward! 🚀

You said:

should i click on the column header or the value?

ChatGPT said:

Great question! You should click on the column header first, then follow the steps.

Here’s exactly what to do:

1️⃣ Click on the column header (e.g., StartDate) in Table1.
2️⃣ Go to Transform → Convert to List.
3️⃣ Now, in the new list view, click on the only value that appears (not the header, just the date).
4️⃣ Right-click → Drill Down.

This will ensure that you extract a single date value instead of modifying the table structure.

Let me know if that works! 🚀

You said:

*cringe* I see startDate and startDate1 in the Querry Settings insturction list. I see =startDate(0) in the main box with a small in grey and not able to be adjusted, the value 3/8/2024

ChatGPT said:

No worries—this is completely fixable! 💪 Let’s clean this up and get you back on track.

What Likely Happened:

It looks like a new step (startDate1) was accidentally created, instead of modifying startDateParam.
The formula bar is greyed out because it’s referencing something incorrectly.

How to Fix It

1️⃣ Remove the Extra Step

In the Query Settings pane (right side), under Applied Steps, look for startDate1.
Click on it, then press the X to delete it.

2️⃣ Reset startDateParam Correctly

In the Queries pane (left side), click on startDateParam.
In the formula bar, replace whatever is there with:

powerquery

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= Table1[StartDate]{0}

If your column is named differently (e.g., Column1), update it accordingly.
{0} ensures it picks the first row’s value.
Press Enter.

3️⃣ Verify Everything

Click on Table1 → It should still have StartDate and EndDate.
Click on startDateParam → It should now show only one date (from Excel).
Click on endDateParam → Repeat the same process for EndDate if needed.

✅ Once this is correct, we’re ready to move forward! Let me know what you see. 🚀

You said:

i don’t see a formula bar, what I see is current value 1/1/2024 and Manage parameter.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! It sounds like you’re inside the “Manage Parameter” settings rather than editing the actual value dynamically. No problem—we can fix that!

How to Fix startDateParam So It Dynamically Pulls from Table1

1️⃣ Enable the Formula Bar

First, let’s make sure you can see the formula bar:

In Power Query, go to the View tab.
Check the box for Formula Bar (if it’s unchecked).

Now, when you select a query, you should see a formula bar at the top of the main editor window.

2️⃣ Fix startDateParam

In the Queries pane (left side), click on startDateParam.
If you now see a formula bar, enter this formula and press Enter:

powerquery

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= Table1[StartDate]{0}

If your column is named differently (e.g., Column1), replace StartDate with the actual name.
{0} ensures it pulls the first row’s value from Table1.

✅ Now startDateParam should be linked to the StartDate value in Excel!

3️⃣ Repeat for endDateParam

Click on endDateParam.
In the formula bar, enter:

powerquery

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= Table1[EndDate]{0}

{0} ensures it picks the EndDate value from Table1.
Press Enter.

✅ Now, both parameters should be correctly linked to Excel!

Final Check

Click on startDateParam → It should show only one date from Excel.
Click on endDateParam → It should show only one date from Excel.
Click on Table1 → It should still have both StartDate and EndDate.

Let me know if this works! 🚀

You said:

formula bar is checked, no formula that i can see

ChatGPT said:

Alright! Since the formula bar is checked but not showing a formula, it sounds like startDateParam is still set up as a manual parameter rather than dynamically pulling from Table1.

We’ll fix this by recreating the parameter correctly and making sure it’s linked to Table1.

🚀 Fixing startDateParam

Step 1: Delete the Incorrect Parameter

In the Queries pane (left side), right-click startDateParam and choose Delete.
Do the same for endDateParam, so we start fresh.

Step 2: Extract StartDate from Table1

Click on Table1 in the Queries pane.
Click on the StartDate column header (not the value).
Go to Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears.
Right-click → Drill Down.
- Now, instead of a table, you should see just a single date value.

Step 3: Rename It to startDateParam

In the Queries pane (left side), right-click the new query (it might be called something like Table1 (2) or StartDate List).
Choose Rename, and type:

nginx

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startDateParam

Press Enter.

✅ Now startDateParam is correctly linked to Excel!

🚀 Fixing endDateParam

Click on Table1 in the Queries pane.
Click on the EndDate column header.
Transform → Convert to List.
Click on the only value that appears.
Right-click → Drill Down.

Step 4: Rename It to endDateParam

In the Queries pane (left side), right-click the new query.
Choose Rename, and type:

nginx

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endDateParam

Press Enter.

✅ Now endDateParam is correctly linked to Excel!

Final Check

Click on startDateParam → It should show only one date (from Excel).
Click on endDateParam → It should show only one date (from Excel).
Click on Table1 → It should still have both StartDate and EndDate.

Let me know if this works! If not, we’ll adjust as needed. 💪🚀

You said:

let’s start over. I am not able to get this fresh, too many side quests.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Let’s reset and go from the very beginning with clear steps so there are no side quests this time.

🚀 Fresh Start: Setting Up Dynamic Date Parameters in Power Query

Step 1: Load Your Named Ranges into Power Query

Go to Excel and select the named range for your Start Date (startDate).
Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Table/Range.
When prompted, click OK (even if it says there’s no headers).
The Power Query Editor will open.

✅ You should now see a table with one column (Column1) and one row (your start date).

Rename the query (on the left panel) to Table1.
Click Close & Load → Close & Load To… → Only Create Connection → OK.

✅ Repeat this entire process for endDate (follow the same steps).

Step 2: Open Power Query and Combine Dates

Open Power Query Editor (Data → Queries & Connections → Edit Queries).
In the left panel (Queries pane), you should see:
- Table1 (Start Date table)
- Table2 (End Date table)
Click on Table1. Rename Column1 to StartDate.
Click on Table2. Rename Column1 to EndDate.
Now, combine the two:
- Go to Home → Append Queries → Append as New.
- Table1 (StartDate) should be the first table, and Table2 (EndDate) should be the second.
- Click OK.

✅ Now you have one table with StartDate in the first row and EndDate in the second row!

Step 3: Transform This into Usable Date Parameters

Add an Index Column:
- Click on Add Column → Index Column → From 0.
- You now have two columns: Column1 (Dates) and Index (0 for StartDate, 1 for EndDate).
Pivot the Data:
- Select the Index column.
- Go to Transform → Pivot Column.
- In the popup:
  - Choose Column1 as the values column.
  - Click Advanced Options → Don’t Aggregate.
  - Click OK.

✅ Now you should see two columns: 0 (StartDate) and 1 (EndDate).

Rename the columns:
- Change 0 → StartDate.
- Change 1 → EndDate.
Change Data Type:
- Click on StartDate → Transform → Data Type → Date.
- Click on EndDate → Transform → Data Type → Date.

✅ You now have a clean table with StartDate and EndDate!

Step 4: Convert to Parameters

Convert StartDate to a parameter:
- Click on the StartDate column.
- Go to Transform → Convert to List.
- Click the only value that appears.
- Right-click → Drill Down.
- Rename this query to startDateParam.
Convert EndDate to a parameter:
- Click on the EndDate column.
- Go to Transform → Convert to List.
- Click the only value that appears.
- Right-click → Drill Down.
- Rename this query to endDateParam.

✅ Now you have two queries:

startDateParam → Single date from Excel
endDateParam → Single date from Excel

Step 5: Use These Parameters in SQL

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To… → Only Create Connection → OK.
Now, open your SQL query in Power Query.
Modify the query to reference the parameters:

sql

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SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @startDate AND @endDate;

Replace @startDate and @endDate with the Power Query parameters:

sql

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WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN #”startDateParam” AND #”endDateParam”

✅ Now, Power Query dynamically pulls the date range from Excel into SQL!

Final Check

Go to Excel and change the start or end date in your named cells.
Refresh Power Query (Data → Refresh All).
SQL should now run with the new dates! 🎉

Let me know where you are, and I’ll help you through any step! 🚀

You said:

okay back up to step 1. When I chose the startDate, and then opened Get Data, only the startDate appeared

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! That’s exactly what should happen at this stage. Right now, we are loading one named range (startDate) into Power Query.

Let’s lock in startDate first, and then we’ll repeat the same process for endDate.

🚀 Step 1 (Finish Loading startDate)

You should see a Power Query window open with just one column (Column1) and one row (your startDate value).
Rename the Query (on the left panel, under “Queries”) to:

nginx

CopyEdit

Table1

Rename the column header (Column1) to:

nginx

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StartDate

Go to Home → Close & Load → Close & Load To…
In the pop-up window, select:
- Only Create Connection
- Click OK.

✅ Now startDate is loaded as a query, but not loaded into the sheet—this is what we want!

🚀 Step 2 (Load endDate)

Go back to Excel.
Click on the named cell that holds endDate.
Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Table/Range.
Repeat the same process as startDate:
- Rename the Query to Table2.
- Rename Column1 to EndDate.
- Close & Load To… → Only Create Connection → OK.

✅ Now you have two queries in Power Query:

Table1 (contains StartDate)
Table2 (contains EndDate)

Let me know if you’re at this point before we continue! 🚀

You said:

uh oh.

ChatGPT said:

No worries! What happened? Let’s fix it. 🚀

You said:

So when I selected the Close & Load to I didnt’ see Only Create Connection. So I hit cancel but it showed up on the Queries & Connections tab anyway, with Table 1 = connection only. So I assumed I had inadvertently did what I was supposed to do. When I did this with Table 2, and I just hit okay, it came up under Queries and Connections with 1 row loaded.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! No problem at all—Power Query can be a little tricky with loading options. Here’s how we fix it:

🚀 Step 1: Fix Table2 to Be Connection-Only

Since Table1 is already Connection Only (which is correct), we just need to fix Table2 so it doesn’t load a row into Excel.

Open Power Query Editor:
- Go to the Queries & Connections pane (on the right side of Excel).
- Right-click on Table2 → Select Edit.
Change the Load Settings:
- In Power Query, go to Home → Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
- This time, select Only Create Connection → Click OK.

✅ Now, both Table1 and Table2 should say “Connection Only” in the Queries & Connections pane.

🚀 Step 2: Confirm Everything Is Set Correctly

Go to Data → Queries & Connections
You should see both Table1 and Table2 listed.
Both should say “Connection Only” (no rows loaded into Excel).

✅ If that’s what you see, then we’re back on track! Let me know, and we’ll move forward. 🚀

You said:

i don’t see the Only Create Connection at all.

ChatGPT said:

No worries! Your version of Excel might have a slightly different interface. Let’s work around it.

🚀 Fixing the Load Settings for Table2

Since you don’t see “Only Create Connection,” try this:

Open Power Query Editor:
- Go to Data → Queries & Connections (on the right side).
- Right-click Table2 → Click Edit (this will open Power Query Editor).
Manually Change the Load Settings:
- In Power Query, go to Home → Close & Load (Dropdown) → Close & Load To…
- In the pop-up window:
  - If “Table” is selected, change it to “Only Create Connection” (if visible).
  - If you don’t see that option, select “Load to Data Model” (this is Power Pivot, which also works).
- Click OK.

✅ Now, check the Queries & Connections pane—both Table1 and Table2 should now be Connection Only (or loaded to the Data Model).

If “Only Create Connection” is Missing Completely

Your Excel version might automatically default to loading to the sheet instead of a connection.
If it loaded a table into Excel, delete that table from the worksheet (don’t delete the query!).
Then, go to Power Query → Close & Load To… and try selecting Load to Data Model instead.

Let me know what happens! We’ll make sure it’s set up correctly. 🚀

You said:

close & load to is greyed out.

ChatGPT said:

Ah, that explains it! If “Close & Load To…” is greyed out, it’s likely because the query is already loaded in a way Excel doesn’t want to change directly. Here’s how to fix it:

🚀 Step 1: Remove the Incorrect Load & Reset the Query

Open the Queries & Connections Pane
- Go to Data → Queries & Connections (right side of Excel).
Fix Table2
- Right-click Table2 and choose Load To…
- If that option is also greyed out, continue to Step 3.
Delete the Existing Table from the Worksheet (If Present)
- If Table2 is visible in an Excel worksheet, select the entire table and delete it (don’t delete the query!).
Reopen Power Query Editor
- Right-click Table2 in the Queries & Connections pane → Click Edit (this opens Power Query).
- Now, try “Close & Load To…” again (it should no longer be greyed out).

🚀 Step 2: Load as a Connection Only

In Power Query Editor, go to Home → Click Close & Load (Dropdown) → Close & Load To…
In the pop-up window:
- If “Only Create Connection” is visible, select it → Click OK.
- If “Only Create Connection” is missing, select “Load to Data Model” instead (this will store it in Power Pivot).

✅ Now, both Table1 and Table2 should be Connection Only (or in the Data Model).

💡 If “Load To…” is Still Greyed Out

If that option stays greyed out, we’ll force a reset:

Delete Table2 from the Queries & Connections pane completely (Right-click → Delete).
Re-import endDate from Excel into Power Query (repeat the Get Data → From Table/Range step).
This time, immediately set it to Connection Only during the Close & Load step.

Let me know what happens! We’re getting there! 🚀

You said:

okay, this time i looked closer and yes, there is a Only Create Connection option. I have table 1 and table 2 both with connection only

ChatGPT said:

Fantastic! 🎉 Now we’re right where we need to be.

🚀 Next Steps: Merging startDate and endDate into a Single Query

Now that Table1 (StartDate) and Table2 (EndDate) are connection-only queries, we’ll combine them into a single query so we can pass them into SQL.

🔹 Step 1: Open Power Query & Merge the Tables

Go to Data → Queries & Connections (on the right).
Right-click Table1 → Click Edit (this opens Power Query).
In Power Query, go to Home → Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New.
In the Merge window:
- Select Table1 (StartDate) as the first table.
- Select Table2 (EndDate) as the second table.
- Merge them on a dummy condition (since they both have a single row, select “Column1” or any available field).
- Click OK.

🔹 Step 2: Expand the Merged Table

You should see Table2 as a column inside the merged query.
Click the expand icon (small box with arrows in the top-right of the column header).
Uncheck “Use original column name as prefix.”
Click OK.

✅ Now, the table should have two columns:

StartDate
EndDate

🔹 Step 3: Convert to Parameters

Click StartDate’s column header, then go to Transform → Convert to List.
Go to Transform → Drill Down (this extracts a single value).
Rename the query to startDateParam.
Click Close & Load To… → Only Create Connection → OK.
Repeat steps 1-4 for EndDate.

✅ Now, you should see two new queries: startDateParam and endDateParam, both connection-only.

🔹 Step 4: Use These in SQL

Now, in your SQL Query inside Power Query, replace your hardcoded dates with:

sql

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SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @startDate AND @endDate;

…but instead of @startDate and @endDate, use:

startDateParam
endDateParam

✅ This setup will now pass the date values from Excel into your SQL query dynamically! 🎯

🚀 Let me know if you get through these steps! We’re nearly done!

You said:

Okay i right clicked on Table 1. Power Query editor opens. table1 and table 2 are on the left sidebar. When I click Merge Queries, I only see Table 1

ChatGPT said:

Great! That means Power Query isn’t recognizing Table2 as an available query to merge. Let’s fix that.

🚀 Step 1: Ensure Table2 is Available for Merging

Before merging, Power Query must recognize both tables. Try this:

Check the Left Sidebar in Power Query
- Do you see Table1 and Table2 listed?
- If Table2 is missing, it may not be loaded into Power Query yet.
Manually Add Table2 if Missing:
- Click Home → New Source → Recent Sources.
- If Table2 appears, select it.
- If Table2 is still missing:
  - Click New Source → Other Sources → Blank Query.
  - In the formula bar, type:

powerquery

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= Table2

Press Enter to create the query manually.

🚀 Step 2: Merge the Queries Again

Now, try merging again:

Click on Table1 in Power Query.
Click Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New.
In the merge window:
- First Table → Table1.
- Second Table → Table2 (it should now appear).
- Merge on a dummy column (since both have only one row).
Click OK.

✅ Now you should be able to expand Table2 inside Table1.

💡 If Table2 Still Doesn’t Appear

Try closing Power Query and reopening it from Data → Queries & Connections, then check again.

Let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

I see both table1 and table 2 on the left sidebar

ChatGPT said:

Great! Since both Table1 and Table2 are visible in the left sidebar, but Table2 isn’t appearing in the Merge Queries dropdown, try this workaround:

🚀 Step 1: Ensure Table2 is Fully Loaded in Power Query

Click on Table2 in the left sidebar.
Check if it has a table format in the main window.
- If it’s showing as “List” instead of a table, we need to convert it:
  - Click Transform → To Table (if available).
  - Click OK in the pop-up box.
Click Home → Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Choose Only Create Connection (if it asks).

🚀 Step 2: Try Merging Again

Click on Table1 in Power Query.
Click Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New.
In the pop-up window:
- First Table → Select Table1.
- Second Table → See if Table2 is now available in the dropdown.

✅ If Table2 appears, merge it by selecting a dummy column (since they both have a single row).
✅ If Table2 still doesn’t appear, let me know what happens when you try the steps in Step 1! 🚀

You said:

where would i see if it is showing as list?

ChatGPT said:

Great question! Here’s how to check if Table2 is showing as a List instead of a Table:

🚀 Step 1: Check if Table2 is a List

Click on Table2 in the left sidebar (Queries pane).
Look at the main data window (center panel of Power Query).
- If Table2 looks like a single column without headers and has a list icon (🔽) next to each value, it’s a List.
- If Table2 has column headers and multiple columns, it’s a Table (✅ good to go).

🚀 Step 2: Convert a List to a Table (If Needed)

If Table2 is a List, convert it into a table:

Click Transform → To Table (top ribbon).
Click OK in the pop-up (no need to change settings).
Now it should look like a proper table.

🚀 Step 3: Try Merging Again

Once Table2 is a table, go back to Table1 → Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New, and Table2 should now appear as an option.

Let me know if Table2 was a List or already a Table! 🚀

You said:

table2 has a calendar icon next to endDate. It has one row number 1 and the value 3/9/2024 below it.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! That means Table2 is already a table with a date value—which is exactly what we need. Now, let’s try merging again.

🚀 Step 1: Merge Table1 and Table2

Click on Table1 in the left sidebar (Power Query).
Click Home → Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New.
In the pop-up window:
- First Table: Select Table1.
- Second Table: Do you now see Table2 in the dropdown?

If Table2 appears:

Select it.
Merge them on a dummy column (since each table has only one row).
Click OK.

If Table2 still doesn’t appear:

Let me know what happens when you click the dropdown for the second table. 🚀

You said:

what do you mean dummy column. Table 2 did show as a drop down.

ChatGPT said:

Excellent! Since Table2 appears in the dropdown, we’re on the right track. Now, let’s clarify the dummy column part:

🔹 What is a Dummy Column?

When merging two tables in Power Query, Excel usually requires a common column to match rows between them.
But since Table1 and Table2 only have one row each, there’s no natural column to join them on.
So, we use a workaround—a “dummy column”—that ensures both tables can be merged.

🚀 Step 1: Add an Index (Dummy Column) to Both Tables

Click on Table1 in Power Query.
Click Add Column → Index Column → From 1 (this creates a new column called Index with the value 1).
Click on Table2, and repeat Step 2 (add the same Index column).
Click Close & Load → Close & Load To… → Only Create Connection (if needed).

🚀 Step 2: Merge the Tables Using the Dummy Column

Click on Table1 in the left sidebar.
Click Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New.
In the Merge window:
- First Table: Select Table1.
- Second Table: Select Table2.
- Join Column: Click on Index in both tables (this ensures they merge correctly).
Click OK.

✅ Now, Table1 and Table2 should be merged, with Table2 appearing as an expandable column inside Table1.

🚀 Step 3: Expand Table2

Click the expand icon (small box with arrows) in the Table2 column.
Uncheck “Use original column name as prefix.”
Click OK.

✅ Now you should see both startDate and endDate as separate columns in a single table!

Let me know if you get to this point! 🚀

You said:

both tables have a new column, Index with 1 as the value. When I am on table 2 and choose close & load > close and load to, that close and load to is greyed out.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Since Close & Load To… is greyed out, that usually means Power Query thinks the table is already correctly loaded. No worries! You can skip that step and go straight to merging.

🚀 Next Step: Merge Table1 and Table2

Now that both tables have an Index column:

Click on Table1 in the left sidebar (Power Query).
Click Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New.
In the Merge window:
- First Table: Select Table1.
- Second Table: Select Table2.
- Join Column: Click on the Index column in both tables (this ensures they merge correctly).
Click OK.

✅ If everything goes right, Table2 should now appear as a new column inside Table1.

🚀 Final Step: Expand Table2

Find the Table2 column inside Table1.
Click the expand icon (small box with arrows).
Uncheck “Use original column name as prefix.”
Click OK.

✅ You should now see both startDate and endDate as separate columns inside a single table.

Let me know if you get to this point! 🚀

You said:

ok, I see a merge dialog box. I have table 1 as the top and table 2 as the bottom. There is a join kind at the bottom. that’s all i see.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! You’re in the Merge dialog box. Now let’s complete the merge:

🚀 Step 1: Select the Join Columns

In Table1 (top table), click on the Index column to highlight it.
In Table2 (bottom table), click on the Index column to highlight it.
- This tells Power Query that these tables should be merged using the Index column.

🚀 Step 2: Choose the Join Kind

For your case, the best option is:

Left Outer Join (default) → Keeps all rows from Table1 and matches data from Table2.

If Left Outer Join is already selected, you’re good to go!

🚀 Step 3: Click OK

Click OK to confirm the merge.
You should now see Table2 appear as a new column inside Table1.
There should be a small expand icon (🔽) next to Table2.

🚀 Step 4: Expand Table2

Click the expand icon (🔽 small box with arrows).
A menu will appear—select endDate.
Uncheck “Use original column name as prefix” (optional).
Click OK.

✅ Now you should see startDate and endDate as separate columns inside Table1!

Final Step: Close & Load

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Choose Only Create Connection.
Click OK.

Let me know if this worked! 🚀

You said:

ok is greyed out

ChatGPT said:

If OK is greyed out in the Merge dialog box, it usually means Power Query doesn’t recognize the selected columns as valid for merging. Let’s troubleshoot:

🚀 Step 1: Verify Your Column Selection

Make sure you clicked the Index column in both Table1 (top) and Table2 (bottom).
- You should see a small “1” appear in each column you selected.
- If no number appears, try clicking the Index column again.
Check that both tables have at least one row (which they should).

🚀 Step 2: Confirm Table2 is a Table (Not a List)

Click on Table2 in the left sidebar.
If you only see a single column without headers, it might still be a List instead of a Table.
If that’s the case:
1. Click Transform → To Table in the top ribbon.
2. Click OK (no need to change settings).
3. Now try merging again.

🚀 Step 3: Close & Reopen Power Query

If you’re sure you selected Index in both tables and OK is still greyed out:

Click Cancel in the Merge window.
Close Power Query without saving changes.
Reopen Power Query and try merging again.

Try these steps and let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

oh, you said select the columns, I was expected to see a dialog box or something else, not actually click on the column. Yes, now I see Merge but it says startDate with a value of 3/9/2024 below, index with 1 below, and table 2 with Table below. Sounds like i messed up the merge

ChatGPT said:

No worries! You’re actually really close—you just need to expand Table2 so you can see endDate.

🚀 Next Step: Expand Table2

Look for the Table2 column (it should say “Table” under it).
Click the expand icon (🔽 small box with arrows) next to Table2.
A menu will appear—select endDate (this pulls the actual value into the table).
Uncheck “Use original column name as prefix” (optional).
Click OK.

✅ Now endDate should appear as a separate column next to startDate in Table1.

🚀 Final Step: Close & Load

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Choose Only Create Connection.
Click OK.

Now your startDate and endDate values are combined into a single table! 🎉

Let me know if you see both date columns now. 🚀

You said:

Okay I started completely over. I created my name ranges, I changed them to the desired SQL format of yyyy-mm-dddd. I went to Get Data from Other sources, i selected both values: B1:B2. My first annoyance is that it adds a table header to my excel column B.

ChatGPT said:

You’re doing great! That extra header row is Power Query assuming your data has column names. Here’s how to fix it:

🚀 Fixing the Unwanted Header

Option 1: Manually Remove the Header in Power Query

In Power Query Editor, find where it says Column1 (your data column).
Go to the Transform tab and click Use Headers as First Row (this moves your header row back into the data).
Now, rename the column startDate (or whatever you need).

Option 2: Prevent Power Query from Adding a Header in the First Place

If you want to start fresh again:

When selecting Get Data → From Table/Range, uncheck the My Table Has Headers box.
This keeps the first row as part of your data instead of turning it into a header.

Either way, after this step, you should have startDate and endDate in a single column in Power Query, ready to transform! 🚀

Let me know if this fixes it or if that header row is still being stubborn.

You said:

let’s go back.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Let’s reset and go step by step again.

🚀 Step 1: Select Date Values from Excel

Select your two date cells (e.g., B1:B2 where startDate and endDate are).
Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Table/Range.
When the popup appears, uncheck “My table has headers” (this stops Power Query from assuming the first row is a header).
Click OK.

✅ This will load the two dates into Power Query as a single-column table.

🚀 Step 2: Power Query Adjustments

Now you’re in Power Query Editor, and you should see:
- A single column (Column1)
- Two rows: one for startDate, one for endDate
Go to the Transform tab and click Rename Column → Change Column1 to Dates.
Change the data type:
- Select the Dates column.
- Click on Data Type (upper left) → Choose Date (not Date/Time).
- Click Replace Current if prompted.

🚀 Step 3: Convert to Start & End Dates

Go to the Add Column tab → Click Index Column → Choose From 1.
- Now you should have two columns: Dates and Index.
Pivot the table:
- Select the Index column.
- Click Transform → Pivot Column.
- In the Pivot window:
  - Values Column: Select Dates.
  - Click OK.
- If the column names are numbers (1 and 2), rename them:
  - 1 → startDate
  - 2 → endDate

✅ Now you should see startDate and endDate as separate columns!

🚀 Step 4: Load as a Connection

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Select Only Create Connection → Click OK.

Now your Power Query is ready for SQL! 🎉

Let me know if anything looks different on your end. 🚀

You said:

okay, the my table has headers is unchecked. B1:b2 is the cell range

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Since “My table has headers” is unchecked, Power Query will treat both B1 and B2 as data, not a header.

Now, let’s go step by step from here.

🚀 Step 1: Verify Data in Power Query

You should now see one column (Column1) with two rows in Power Query:
- Row 1 → Your startDate value
- Row 2 → Your endDate value

If this looks good, move to the next step.

🚀 Step 2: Rename the Column

Click the column header (Column1) and rename it to Dates.
- To rename: Right-click → Rename → Type Dates.

🚀 Step 3: Change Data Type

Click on the Dates column.
Go to the Transform tab → Data Type dropdown → Select Date.
Click Replace Current if a prompt appears.

✅ Now your data is recognized as actual dates!

🚀 Step 4: Add an Index to Differentiate Start & End Dates

Go to the Add Column tab.
Click Index Column → Choose From 1.
- Now, you should have two columns:
  - Dates (your original values)
  - Index (which should show 1 for the first row and 2 for the second row)

🚀 Step 5: Pivot the Data into Two Columns (startDate and endDate)

Select the Index column (click on the header).
Go to Transform → Pivot Column.
In the Pivot Column window:
- Values Column: Choose Dates.
- Click OK.
If the column names are 1 and 2, rename them to:
- 1 → startDate
- 2 → endDate

✅ Now, you should see two separate columns: startDate and endDate!

🚀 Step 6: Load as a Connection

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Select Only Create Connection → Click OK.

At this point, Power Query is correctly set up to pass startDate and endDate into SQL! 🎉

Let me know what you see at this point! 🚀

You said:

nope, it added a blue COlumn1 header to b1:b2 in Excel.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! That means Excel automatically converted your range into a table, which is causing the extra header issue. Let’s reset and do it differently.

🚀 Step 1: Manually Name the Ranges in Excel

Delete the table header Excel added (so that B1 contains the start date and B2 contains the end date, without an extra row).
Manually name each cell:
- Click on B1 (your start date).
- In the Name Box (top-left, above column A), type: startDate → Press Enter.
- Click on B2 (your end date).
- In the Name Box, type: endDate → Press Enter.

✅ Now you have two separate named ranges: startDate and endDate.

🚀 Step 2: Load the Named Ranges into Power Query

Go to Data → Get Data → From Other Sources → From Excel Workbook.
In the Navigator, select startDate and endDate separately.
Click Transform Data to open Power Query Editor.

Now, startDate and endDate should appear as separate queries on the left sidebar.

🚀 Step 3: Convert to Parameters

Click on startDate in the left sidebar.
In the Transform tab, click Convert to List.
In the Home tab, click Drill Down.
Rename the query to startDateParam.
Repeat Steps 1–4 for endDate, renaming it endDateParam.

✅ Now, you have two Power Query parameters: startDateParam and endDateParam.

🚀 Step 4: Use These Parameters in Your SQL Query

When setting up your SQL query in Power Query, you can now reference startDateParam and endDateParam dynamically!

Let me know if this works or if Excel is still being stubborn! 🚀

You said:

Okay. I have two Queries, startDateParam and endDateParam.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! 🎉 Now you’re at the fun part—passing these parameters into your SQL query. Let’s do that step by step.

🚀 Step 1: Connect to Your SQL Database

Go to Data → Get Data → From Database → From SQL Server Database (or whichever database you’re using).
Enter your server name and database name → Click OK.
Choose a table (any table for now) → Click Transform Data to open Power Query.

Now, you’re in the Power Query Editor with your SQL table loaded.

🚀 Step 2: Modify the SQL Query to Use Your Date Parameters

In the Home tab, click Advanced Editor.
You’ll see Power Query’s auto-generated SQL code. Modify it to use the parameters:

sql

CopyEdit

let Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=” SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘ AND ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘” ]) in Source

Click Done.

🚀 Step 3: Load the Data into Power Pivot

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Select Only Create Connection → Check Add this to the Data Model → Click OK.

Now your SQL query dynamically updates based on the startDate and endDate from Excel!

✅ Final Step: Change the date values in Excel, refresh Power Query, and watch your data update automatically. 🚀

Let me know if you hit any snags!

You said:

wait a minute. before we get started, let’s confirm a couple things. I’m at the Queries & Connections, I see startDateParam and endDateParam, they both show as connection Only. Is that right?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! ✅ That is exactly right—both startDateParam and endDateParam should show as Connection Only under Queries & Connections.

This means they are ready to be referenced in your SQL query but won’t load unnecessary data into your Excel sheet.

Now, you’re all set to move forward with connecting to your SQL database! 🚀 Let me know when you’re ready for the next step.

You said:

ready

ChatGPT said:

Awesome! 🚀 Now, let’s integrate these parameters into your SQL query.

🚀 Step 1: Connect to Your SQL Database

Go to Data → Get Data → From Database → From SQL Server Database (or the correct database type you’re using).
Enter your SQL Server name and database name → Click OK.
In the Navigator window, select a relevant table (this is just a placeholder; we’ll modify the SQL in the next step) → Click Transform Data to open Power Query.

Now you’re in the Power Query Editor with a table loaded.

🚀 Step 2: Modify the SQL Query to Use Your Date Parameters

Click Advanced Editor in the Home tab.
You’ll see the default SQL query. Modify it like this:

sql

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Replace “YourServerName” and “YourDatabaseName” with your actual database details.
startDateParam and endDateParam will pull from your Excel-named ranges dynamically.
Click Done.

🚀 Step 3: Load the Data into Power Pivot

Click Close & Load → Close & Load To…
Select Only Create Connection and check ✅ Add this to the Data Model → Click OK.

Now, your SQL query dynamically updates based on the dates in Excel!

✅ Final Test: Change the startDate and endDate in Excel, refresh Power Query, and watch the magic happen.

Let me know if anything looks off or needs adjusting! 🚀

You said:

I have WHERE har.DISCH_dATE BETWEEN ‘” & TEXT.FROM(STARTdATEpARAM) & “‘ & ‘” & TEXT.FROM(ENDDATEpARAM) & “‘”

ChatGPT said:

You’re really close, but there’s a small syntax issue! Your SQL should have an AND between the two dates, and the formatting of the quotes needs to be correct.

✅ Corrected Query

sql

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WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘ AND ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”

🔍 What Was Wrong?

You had & instead of AND between the dates.
The second date was missing its opening single quote.
TEXT.FROM(STARTdATEpARAM) and TEXT.FROM(ENDDATEpARAM) should be lowercase (Text.From(startDateParam), etc.) to match Power Query’s syntax.

✅ Final Query in Power Query

sql

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Final Steps

Click Done in the Advanced Editor.
Click Close & Load To…
Select Only Create Connection and check ✅ Add this to the Data Model → Click OK.

🚀 Test it out: Change the date values in Excel, refresh the query, and see if your SQL data updates as expected!

Let me know how it goes!

You said:

can you make that line word wrap?

ChatGPT said:

Of course! Here’s the same query with proper word wrapping for readability:

sql

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This formatting makes it easier to read while keeping everything functionally the same. Let me know if you need any more adjustments! 🚀

You said:

WHERE har.disch_date BETWEEN ‘” & TEXT.FROM(STARTdATEpARAM) & “‘ AND

ChatGPT said:

It looks like your line is getting cut off. Here’s how you should format it properly with word wrapping:

sql

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WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘ AND ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”

Full Query with Word Wrapping

sql

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This structure ensures clarity and avoids syntax errors while keeping the SQL query readable. Let me know if anything still looks off! 🚀

You said:

the code syntax changes color right after the first & Text.From

ChatGPT said:

Ah, that usually happens when Power Query detects a syntax issue, often related to mismatched quotes. Let’s make sure everything is structured correctly.

Correct Power Query Code (Proper Syntax & Formatting)

sql

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let Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query= “SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE ” & “FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har ” & “WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘ AND ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘” ] ) in Source

Key Fixes:

Concatenation (&) is correctly placed at the end of each line to ensure Power Query reads it as a continuous string.
Double quotes (“) correctly wrap each SQL portion, while single quotes (‘) are placed inside the query to handle date values properly.
Text.From(startDateParam) & Text.From(endDateParam) remain unchanged and properly inserted.

🚀 Try this version in Power Query’s Advanced Editor! If you still see color changes, let me know where exactly it happens, and I’ll help debug it further!

You said:

I noticed I didn’t have the double quotes on each line of the source code. This is a baby code, only really one line. How do you edit this when it’s hundreds of lines of code?

ChatGPT said:

Great observation! When you’re dealing with hundreds of lines of SQL in Power Query, manually adding ” and & on each line becomes impractical. Here’s how you can efficiently format and manage long SQL queries inside Power Query:

1️⃣ Use Multiline String Variables in Power Query

Instead of manually breaking lines, define a variable that stores your SQL as a multiline text block, then pass it into the Query= parameter:

sql

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let sqlQuery = “SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE ” & “FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har ” & “WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘ ” & “AND ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”, Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=sqlQuery]) in Source

✅ Why is this better?

Easier to read: You only break lines where SQL syntax makes sense, not due to Power Query’s string rules.
Easier to edit: Instead of modifying each line individually, you edit sqlQuery in one place.

2️⃣ Store SQL in an External File (Best for Large Queries)

For very large SQL queries, keeping them in Power Query is messy. Instead, store your SQL in a .txt file and load it dynamically.

Steps:

Save your SQL script in a .txt file (e.g., query.sql).
Load it into Power Query using File.Contents().

sql

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let queryText = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(“C:\Path\To\Your\query.sql”)), formattedQuery = Text.Replace(queryText, “@StartDate”, “‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘”), formattedQuery = Text.Replace(formattedQuery, “@EndDate”, “‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”), Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=formattedQuery]) in Source

✅ Why is this better?

Keeps Power Query clean—no long SQL blocks.
Easy to modify SQL—just edit query.sql in Notepad or SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
Reuses queries across multiple reports.

3️⃣ Use Power Query Parameters for SQL Dynamic Filters

If you need more than just date filters (e.g., filter by Region, Product, etc.), consider adding more Power Query parameters instead of hardcoding them inside Text.From().

Example:

sql

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let sqlQuery = “SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE ” & “FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har ” & “WHERE har.Region = ‘” & Text.From(regionParam) & “‘ ” & “AND har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘ ” & “AND ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”, Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=sqlQuery]) in Source

✅ Why is this better?

Handles multiple filters dynamically (dates, categories, IDs, etc.).
No need to manually edit SQL for every change.

🔹 Final Takeaway

✅ For small queries → Use & properly, ensuring double quotes wrap SQL text.
✅ For large queries → Store SQL in a .txt file and dynamically load it.
✅ For complex filtering → Use Power Query parameters to pass dynamic values into SQL.

🚀 Now your Power Query can handle massive SQL queries while staying clean and manageable! 🎯 Let me know if you want to explore this further!

You said:

laughs. You’re still having to edit the hundreds of lines of code with each line having a “. You’re solution is to just make it a parameter now.

ChatGPT said:

Haha, fair point! 😆 You’re right—my first solution still involves manually adding ” and & for each line. But let’s go full automation mode and eliminate that hassle entirely!

🚀 Ultimate No-Manual-Editing Solution: Read SQL from a File & Dynamically Inject Parameters

💡 Instead of manually editing hundreds of lines, we store the SQL in an external file and let Power Query dynamically replace placeholders (like @StartDate). This means you never touch the SQL in Power Query itself!

🔹 Steps:

1️⃣ Save your SQL script (without worrying about ” or &) in a .sql file.
2️⃣ Use Power Query to read the file and replace dynamic parameters.
3️⃣ Pass the final SQL into Power Query’s database connection.

1️⃣ Save Your SQL Query as a .sql File

📌 File: C:\YourPath\query.sql
📌 Contents of query.sql (Notice there are NO ” or & needed!)

sql

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SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate

2️⃣ Load & Modify SQL Dynamically in Power Query

sql

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let // Read SQL from the external file queryText = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(“C:\YourPath\query.sql”)), // Replace placeholders with dynamic date values queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryText, “@StartDate”, “‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘”), queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryWithDates, “@EndDate”, “‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”), // Execute the final query Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=queryWithDates]) in Source

💡 Why This is the Best Solution

✅ No more “ and & in Power Query—you never edit the query there again!
✅ SQL stays clean & readable—just edit query.sql like normal SQL.
✅ Reusable across multiple reports—update the SQL file, and all reports reflect changes.
✅ Handles ANY query length—whether it’s 10 lines or 1,000 lines, it works the same way.

🚀 Now, You Just Edit query.sql Normally & Let Power Query Do the Work!

😎 No more frustrating line-by-line editing! Power Query dynamically injects your Excel date parameters into the SQL file without needing to touch code formatting. 🎯

How’s that for true automation? 😏

You said:

Okay, definitely better but I’m not seeing what you have as “placeholders” on the actual SQL query. Show me that.

ChatGPT said:

Ah, gotcha! You want to see exactly how to write the placeholders in your SQL file so that Power Query can dynamically replace them. Here’s a clean example of how your query.sql should look:

📌 Example query.sql (Stored in a File)

sql

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SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate

🔍 What’s Happening Here?

@StartDate and @EndDate are just placeholders—they are not actual SQL variables.
When Power Query reads this file, it replaces @StartDate and @EndDate with actual date values from Excel.
You never need to manually edit the SQL query inside Power Query—you just update query.sql in a text editor like Notepad or VS Code.

🔥 Now, Here’s How Power Query Replaces Them:

sql

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let // Load SQL file as text queryText = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(“C:\YourPath\query.sql”)), // Replace @StartDate with actual Excel date value queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryText, “@StartDate”, “‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘”), // Replace @EndDate with actual Excel date value queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryWithDates, “@EndDate”, “‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”), // Run the final query Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=queryWithDates]) in Source

🚀 What This Achieves

✅ Your SQL file remains clean & readable, without ” and & clutter.
✅ Power Query injects the dates dynamically—no need to hardcode them.
✅ If your SQL query changes, you only update query.sql (not Power Query).

⚡ Now, all you have to do is update query.sql like any normal SQL file—Power Query takes care of the rest! 😎

You said:

I like that. So I could write my SQL code with variables @startDate and @endDate and error check. When I save the approved version, I just remove the declare and variable defintions at the top (or comment them out). Save the SQL and your script spiders the code and changes what used to be a variable to an Excel parameter.

ChatGPT said:

Exactly! 🔥 That’s the beauty of this approach—you get the best of both worlds:

✅ Write & debug your SQL normally with declared variables (@StartDate, @EndDate).
✅ Error-check it in SQL Server first (or any DB tool) before using it in Power Query.
✅ Once it works, just remove or comment out the DECLARE statements.
✅ Power Query automatically injects the Excel parameters when running the query.

Your SQL Development Flow 🚀

1️⃣ Write & test SQL in SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio)

sql

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DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’ DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-03-31’ SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate

✅ This ensures your query runs correctly before you integrate it into Power Query.

2️⃣ When Ready, Remove or Comment Out the DECLARE Statements

sql

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— DECLARE @StartDate DATE = ‘2024-01-01’ — DECLARE @EndDate DATE = ‘2024-03-31’ SELECT har.Account_ID, har.DISCH_DATE FROM ACCOUNT_TABLE har WHERE har.DISCH_DATE BETWEEN @StartDate AND @EndDate

📌 Why Comment Instead of Delete?

If you ever need to test in SSMS again, just uncomment the DECLARE statements.
Keeps a record of the variables so you know exactly what placeholders Power Query will replace.

3️⃣ Save the SQL File as query.sql

Store it in C:\YourPath\query.sql
Now, Power Query will dynamically replace @StartDate and @EndDate with Excel values.

4️⃣ Power Query Reads & Injects Excel Parameters

sql

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let // Load the SQL file queryText = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(“C:\YourPath\query.sql”)), // Replace @StartDate with the value from Excel queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryText, “@StartDate”, “‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘”), // Replace @EndDate with the value from Excel queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryWithDates, “@EndDate”, “‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”), // Execute final SQL query Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=queryWithDates]) in Source

Why This Rocks 🎸

✅ You keep SQL syntax clean & professional (no ” & & ” nightmare).
✅ SQL debugging is completely separate from Power Query.
✅ Updating queries is super easy—just edit query.sql.
✅ You never need to touch Power Query again unless your database connection changes.

🚀 TL;DR:

Write SQL like normal, test it, remove the DECLARE section, and Power Query magically injects Excel dates into your query. No more manual editing of Power Query code! 🎯

This setup is pro-level automation. 😎

You said:

Can i make the actual file a variable in here?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, you can! 🎯 You can dynamically reference the SQL file path using a Power Query parameter, so if you ever move the file or use a different query file, you won’t have to edit the Power Query script manually.

Steps to Make the SQL File a Variable

1️⃣ Create a Parameter for the SQL File Path

Open Power Query Editor
Go to Manage Parameters > New Parameter
Name it QueryFilePath
Set the type to Text
Set the value to your SQL file’s location (e.g., C:\YourPath\query.sql)

2️⃣ Update Your Power Query Code

Now, modify your M code to use the QueryFilePath parameter instead of hardcoding the file path:

sql

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let // Load the SQL file dynamically queryText = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)), // Replace @StartDate with the value from Excel queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryText, “@StartDate”, “‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘”), // Replace @EndDate with the value from Excel queryWithDates = Text.Replace(queryWithDates, “@EndDate”, “‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘”), // Execute final SQL query Source = Sql.Database(“YourServerName”, “YourDatabaseName”, [Query=queryWithDates]) in Source

🔥 Why This is a Game Changer

✅ Easier Maintenance – Update the query file without touching Power Query.
✅ Dynamic File Paths – Move the SQL file anywhere & just update the parameter.
✅ Multiple Query Files? No Problem! – Just swap the file path in the parameter to run a different SQL script.

🚀 Pro Tip:

If you’re working in a shared environment or different machines, store your SQL files in a common location (like a shared network drive or OneDrive) and just update QueryFilePath as needed.

Now, Power Query dynamically loads the SQL file, injects parameters, and runs your query—all without manually editing the M code. 😎

You said:

advanced Editor, right?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! 🎯 You’ll need to open Advanced Editor in Power Query to modify the M code.

Steps to Open Advanced Editor:

1️⃣ Open Power Query Editor
2️⃣ Click on “Home” > “Advanced Editor”
3️⃣ You’ll see the M code—this is where you replace the static file path with your parameter (QueryFilePath).

Your Mission (If You Choose to Accept It 😏)

Find the line where your SQL file is being loaded, likely:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(“C:\YourPath\query.sql”))

Replace the static path with your parameter:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

Save & Close Advanced Editor

✅ Now, your SQL file path is dynamic, controlled by an easy-to-update Power Query parameter instead of hardcoded inside the script. 🚀

You ready to roll? 😈

You said:

does the m have to be there?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, the M code (Power Query’s scripting language) is required when working inside Power Query Editor to manipulate and load data dynamically.

But if your question is:
👉 “Do I have to write M code manually?” – Not necessarily! Most of the time, Power Query generates it for you when you click buttons (like “Get Data” or “Transform”). However, for advanced customizations—like injecting SQL parameters—you’ll need to edit the M code in Advanced Editor.

Think of it like this:

M code is to Power Query what SQL is to databases.
You can work without writing it, but to go beyond basic stuff, you’ll want to tweak the code directly.

You comfortable working with M, or do you want a more step-by-step breakdown? 😏

You said:

no, the letter m as syntax before the Source = snippet is invoked

ChatGPT said:

Ah, I see what you’re asking! No, you don’t need to prefix m before Source = in M code.

Unlike some languages (like Python, where you might see f”string” for formatting), Power Query M doesn’t require a special prefix before assignments like:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

Just write it as-is inside Advanced Editor, and it will work fine.

Let me know if you’re seeing something weird or if Power Query is complaining. 😈

You said:

So something is wrong. Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Content(QueryFilePath))

ChatGPT said:

You’re close! There’s a small typo in your code:

🔴 Wrong:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Content(QueryFilePath)) // ❌ ‘Content’ is incorrect

🟢 Correct:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) // ✅ ‘Contents’ (with an ‘s’)

Fix:

The function is File.Contents, not File.Content.
Power Query functions are case-sensitive, so even a tiny mistake can break the script.

Try that and let me know if it works! 🚀

You said:

i just mistyped, it was File.Contents

ChatGPT said:

Got it! If File.Contents(QueryFilePath) isn’t working, let’s troubleshoot:

Check These:

1️⃣ Is QueryFilePath correctly defined?

Open Manage Parameters in Power Query
Check that QueryFilePath exists and holds a valid file path (e.g., “C:\Users\Me\query.sql”).
If needed, manually set it to a real path and test.

2️⃣ Does the file actually exist?

Copy QueryFilePath into File Explorer and make sure the file is there.
If it’s a network or OneDrive path, try moving it locally as a test.

3️⃣ Are you getting a specific error?

Power Query usually gives a clue—what’s the exact error message?

If nothing jumps out, give me the error message, and we’ll crack this case wide open. 🔎😏

You said:

how do i see the file path to the parameter queryfielpath

ChatGPT said:

To check the file path stored in QueryFilePath, follow these steps:

Method 1: View the Parameter in Power Query

1️⃣ Open Power Query Editor
2️⃣ Look at the Queries pane (left sidebar) and click on QueryFilePath
3️⃣ In the main window, you should see the stored file path value

Method 2: Use Advanced Editor to Inspect It

1️⃣ Open Power Query Editor
2️⃣ Click on “Home” > “Advanced Editor”
3️⃣ Look for the line that defines QueryFilePath, which should be something like:

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QueryFilePath = “C:\Users\Me\query.sql”

4️⃣ If the path doesn’t look right, manually update it and test.

Method 3: Output the Value to Debug

If you want to quickly see the value, do this:
1️⃣ Click on QueryFilePath in Power Query
2️⃣ Click Close & Load → This will load the value into Excel as a single-cell table
3️⃣ Now, check the Excel sheet to see the exact path stored

Next Steps

If the path is empty or wrong, update it manually.
If the path is correct, but File.Contents(QueryFilePath) still fails, then copy-paste the error message, and we’ll fix it.

What do you see? 😏

You said:

let’s start over because I think i overtyped the filepath with the = source ….I’m confused. Help me delete QueryFilePath so we can start fresh

ChatGPT said:

No worries—let’s start fresh and properly recreate QueryFilePath.

Step 1: Delete QueryFilePath

1️⃣ Open Power Query Editor
2️⃣ In the Queries pane (left sidebar), right-click QueryFilePath
3️⃣ Click Delete ✅

Step 2: Recreate QueryFilePath

1️⃣ Click Manage Parameters → New Parameter
2️⃣ Fill in the details:

Name: QueryFilePath
Type: Text
Current Value: (Enter the full file path to your SQL file, e.g., )

graphql

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C:\Users\YourName\Documents\query.sql

3️⃣ Click OK ✅

Step 3: Verify It

1️⃣ Click on QueryFilePath in the Queries pane
2️⃣ The main window should now display the file path as a single value
3️⃣ If correct, click Close & Load

Once done, let me know, and we’ll reconnect it to File.Contents(QueryFilePath). 🚀

You said:

that is done

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now, let’s use QueryFilePath in your M code to load the SQL file’s contents.

Step 4: Edit the Main Query

1️⃣ Open Power Query Editor
2️⃣ Click on your main query (not QueryFilePath, but the one meant to load the SQL)
3️⃣ Click “Advanced Editor”
4️⃣ Replace or modify the Source line like this:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

5️⃣ Click Done ✅

Step 5: Test It

1️⃣ If the file exists and is readable, the query should now show the SQL text contents
2️⃣ If you see an error, copy the message here so we can debug together 😏

Let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

i’m getting tired, how do you get to the PQ editor?

ChatGPT said:

I hear you—Power Query can be a grind. Here’s the fastest way to open the Power Query Editor:

Method 1: From Excel Ribbon (Fastest)

1️⃣ Click on the Data tab
2️⃣ Click Queries & Connections (if it’s not already open)
3️⃣ Right-click on any query (e.g., QueryFilePath)
4️⃣ Click Edit → This opens Power Query Editor

Method 2: From the Queries Pane

1️⃣ If the Queries & Connections pane is already open:

Double-click any query → It will open Power Query Editor

Method 3: From Power Query Directly

1️⃣ Go to Data > Get Data
2️⃣ Select Launch Power Query Editor

Let me know once you’re in, and we’ll keep it simple from here! 🚀

You said:

got it.

ChatGPT said:

Awesome! Now that you’re in the Power Query Editor, let’s move on.

Next Step:

If you have your QueryFilePath set, let’s make sure the SQL file loads correctly using File.Contents(QueryFilePath).

Want to give that a try now? 😊

You said:

sure. But all i’ve done is have startdateParam, endDateParam, and the QueryFilePath. I’ve not done anything else.

ChatGPT said:

No problem! Let’s get you set up from here, step by step. You’re on the right track with startDateParam, endDateParam, and QueryFilePath.

Step 1: Create a Query to Load SQL File Content

1️⃣ Open Power Query Editor
2️⃣ In the Queries pane (left sidebar), click on the blank area (if no query is selected, just click anywhere in the pane).
3️⃣ Create a new query by going to Home > New Source > Blank Query
4️⃣ In the formula bar (if it’s not visible, click View > Formula Bar), enter the following to load the SQL file using QueryFilePath:

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Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

This will load the file located at QueryFilePath. You’ll see the raw content of the SQL file in the preview.

Step 2: Verify That the SQL File is Loading

1️⃣ After entering the code, press Enter to apply it.
2️⃣ The content of the SQL file should appear in the data preview pane—if everything is set correctly, you’ll see the actual SQL code from the file.
3️⃣ If you get an error, copy the error message here, and we’ll fix it.

Once you have the SQL content loading, let me know, and we’ll move on to using startDateParam and endDateParam in your SQL query! 🚀

You said:

Okay I have a new Query1, with source = text.from binary in the formula bar. I clicked okay at the end, all I see is source = text….

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now that you have your query and it’s showing the Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in the formula bar, let’s check the next steps.

Step 3: Ensure Content Is Loading

1️⃣ After clicking OK, you should see the content of your SQL file in the data preview (usually in the lower half of the window). The text should be the actual SQL code you saved in the file. If it’s not visible:

Make sure you clicked Done or Close & Load after confirming that the file path works.

2️⃣ If you still don’t see the content, let’s check:

Is the file path pointing to the correct file?
Can you manually open the file using the file path in File Explorer?

If the SQL content is visible, you’re ready to move forward with incorporating startDateParam and endDateParam into your SQL query.

Let me know what you see! 😃

You said:

i don’t see a data preview.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Let’s troubleshoot to get that data preview showing up properly.

Step 1: Check the Formula Bar for Errors

1️⃣ After entering Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)), check if there’s a small error icon (a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark) in the top left corner of the query window.
2️⃣ If there’s an error, hover over it, and Power Query should give you a message explaining what’s wrong (e.g., invalid file path, file not found, etc.).

Step 2: Verify the File Path

1️⃣ Double-check that the file path stored in QueryFilePath is correct and points to an existing file. If needed, go to Queries & Connections and open QueryFilePath to verify the path. 2️⃣ You can test this by copying the file path from the parameter into File Explorer to confirm the file is there and accessible.

Step 3: Manually Preview the Content

1️⃣ If the query runs without error, but you still don’t see the data preview, try clicking on “View” > “Data Preview” or “Close & Load” to force it to load the content into Excel and check if anything appears.

Step 4: Check File Permissions

If the file path and content are correct, ensure the file isn’t locked or restricted by another process.

Let me know if you spot any error messages or if the preview starts showing up! 😏

You said:

no, i don’t see any warning triangles.

ChatGPT said:

Thanks for checking! Since there are no warning triangles, the query should technically be working. Let’s try to get the data preview to show by following a few more steps:

Step 1: Refresh the Query

1️⃣ Go back to the Power Query Editor
2️⃣ Click Home > Refresh Preview (this may refresh the data preview window, forcing it to load the SQL file content).

Step 2: Check the Data Type

1️⃣ If the query runs with no errors, try clicking View > Data Preview to toggle the data preview back on. Sometimes it’s just a matter of manually turning it on in the Power Query Editor window.

Step 3: Load the Query into Excel

1️⃣ If nothing shows in the data preview pane, try closing the Power Query editor, then clicking Close & Load to load the query into Excel.
2️⃣ After loading, check the Excel sheet to see if the data is available there.

Step 4: Manually Check the Result

If nothing shows up in the data preview, you can manually check the content by adding a step to the query: 1️⃣ In the Advanced Editor, try adding a new line to inspect the result:

CopyEdit

Debug = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

2️⃣ This will help you see if the content is being loaded properly.

Let me know what you see after trying these steps!

You said:

i just see the left sidebar with the queries, a formula bar with source = and a grey screen with source = textfrombinary at the top. Is it possible the preview isn’t turned on?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, it’s possible that the data preview isn’t turned on, and that’s why you’re only seeing a blank grey screen with the formula bar.

Here’s what you can do to enable the data preview and troubleshoot:

Step 1: Make Sure Data Preview Is Enabled

1️⃣ In the Power Query Editor, go to the View tab on the ribbon (at the top).
2️⃣ Check that Data Preview is turned on by clicking View > Data Preview (if it’s not already checked).

This should make the data preview appear in the lower half of the editor screen.

Step 2: Make Sure You Have Something to Preview

1️⃣ In the formula bar, double-check that the file path is correctly pulling the content. You should see the path correctly referenced inside the File.Contents(QueryFilePath) function. 2️⃣ Make sure the QueryFilePath parameter is pointing to an actual SQL file that’s accessible on your system.

Step 3: Try Adding a Step to View the Output

If you still don’t see anything in the data preview after enabling it: 1️⃣ In the Formula Bar, after the Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)), try adding a new step to output something you can see:

CopyEdit

#”Output” = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)), #”Result” = Text.Middle(#”Output”, 0, 100)

This will show the first 100 characters of the file content in the preview pane.

Let me know if the data preview appears after this!

You said:

i see Query settings icon, formular bar checks, a Data Preview, Columns, Parameters, Advanced Editor, and Query Dependencies section. No Data Preview checked on this.

ChatGPT said:

Great! It sounds like the Data Preview option is currently unchecked. Let’s get it enabled so you can see the file content.

Step 1: Turn On Data Preview

1️⃣ In the Power Query Editor, go to the View tab in the ribbon at the top.
2️⃣ Click the Data Preview option to check it on (this will enable the preview).

You should immediately see the data preview load in the lower part of the screen once it’s enabled.

Step 2: Check File Content

Once the Data Preview is enabled:

You should be able to see the content of the SQL file in the preview pane.
If the file is properly loaded, you’ll see the raw text of the SQL query.

Let me know if this works! 😊

You said:

no, i don’t see it at all

ChatGPT said:

It sounds like the Data Preview still isn’t working. Let’s try a different approach to get it to show up properly.

Step 1: Check File Content Directly

Let’s first confirm that the file is being correctly accessed and that the content is available.

1️⃣ In the Advanced Editor, make sure the formula looks like this:

CopyEdit

Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

2️⃣ Check for Errors:
If there are no errors in the formula bar and you’re still not seeing the preview:

Click Done (in the Power Query Editor) and Close & Load the query to Excel (even if it’s just an empty cell).
Open the Data tab in Excel and check if the query loads data there.

Step 2: Manually Add a Step for Preview

If the data still doesn’t show up in the preview, we can manually inspect the content:

1️⃣ Go back to the Advanced Editor and add a new step to preview the result:

CopyEdit

Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)), Preview = Text.Middle(Source, 0, 100) // This will display the first 100 characters of the file content

This step will allow you to see a snippet of the file content directly in the Power Query Editor.

Step 3: Ensure the File Is Accessible

If you’re still not seeing any data preview or content: 1️⃣ Double-check that the file path in the QueryFilePath parameter is correct. You can test by manually opening the file using File Explorer to confirm it’s accessible.

Let me know if any of these steps help you see the content or if there’s still no data!

You said:

if i go to Query, and I click advanced editor i see the let source = “source = text.frombinary() etc in Source.

ChatGPT said:

Great, it sounds like the query formula is correct, but you’re still not seeing the data preview in the Power Query Editor. Let’s do one more check and step-by-step solution to get it working.

Step 1: Check for Proper Formatting of the File Path

1️⃣ In the Advanced Editor, ensure the formula looks like this:

CopyEdit

Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)),

Where QueryFilePath is the parameter you created with the path to your file.

Step 2: Test Content by Adding a Simple Step

Let’s force a preview by adding a step to inspect the content directly. 1️⃣ In the Advanced Editor, update the query with a new step to see part of the file:

CopyEdit

Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)), Preview = Text.Start(Source, 100) // This will give the first 100 characters of the file

2️⃣ After adding this, press Done to apply the changes. Now, check if the data preview shows up. The Preview step should allow you to see the first 100 characters of the file content.

Step 3: Refresh Preview

1️⃣ After clicking Done to close the Advanced Editor, go to the View tab and click Refresh Preview to ensure that the data preview is up to date.

Step 4: Load to Excel

If the data still doesn’t show in the preview, try this: 1️⃣ Close the Power Query Editor. 2️⃣ Go to Close & Load in the Power Query Editor window, then choose to load the query into Excel (even if it’s just an empty sheet). 3️⃣ Check the Excel sheet to see if the data is now loaded.

Let me know what happens after these steps! If the data still doesn’t show, we can troubleshoot further.

You said:

i am so tired. I’m confused. Your advanced editor doesn’t show let and in. You also have a comma at the end of your source snippet. Is that right?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to double-check! Power Query (M Language) always follows this format:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

Clarifications:

1️⃣ The let and in must always be there – Power Query requires them to define the query steps. 2️⃣ No comma at the end of the last step – Only steps before the final in statement need a comma. 3️⃣ QueryFilePath must be a valid parameter – Ensure it’s correctly defined and contains a real file path.

If You’re Too Tired Right Now

I’d recommend stopping here and revisiting this when you’re fresh. You’re really close! When you come back:

Open Power Query Editor
Check the Advanced Editor for the correct format
Refresh the preview

You’re doing great! Want to pause here and pick it up tomorrow? 😊

You said:

no let me take a break though.

ChatGPT said:

That sounds like a great plan. Step away, grab a snack, and reset your brain. When you’re ready, we’ll pick up right where we left off. You’re making solid progress! 🚀

You said:

Okay i had a sandwich and I have a beverage. Let’s go slow. We have Query1 with the let and in Source = FileContents snippet. No syntax errors have been detected with that let statement so I think we’re good. Oh….you know what, the code is the Source = Test. I was expecting to see the select from where lines of code from that source. Duh!

ChatGPT said:

That sandwich must have been magical because you just had a eureka moment! 🎉

Yes! Right now, Power Query is only reading the file—it hasn’t processed its contents as a SQL query yet. The next step is converting it into an actual query by interpreting the text.

Next Steps:

1️⃣ Transform the binary file contents into text

Click on the small icon in the column (if available) to expand it
OR modify the formula in Advanced Editor to:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

Press Enter

2️⃣ Confirm you see the actual SQL text

If done correctly, you should now see your SQL query as plain text in the preview

Once we confirm this, we’ll pass that text as the SQL command for execution. Ready? 😊

You said:

sorry i don’t understand, where do i need to be to transform. A little “you are here” before you start would be very helpful.

ChatGPT said:

No need to apologize! Let’s get you oriented first. 🗺️

You Are Here:

You have Query1 open in the Power Query Editor
The Formula Bar should show:

CopyEdit

let Source = File.Contents(QueryFilePath) in Source

But you’re not yet seeing the actual SQL text in the preview

Now, Here’s What to Do Next:

1️⃣ Go to the Formula Bar in the Power Query Editor

Click at the end of the current formula
Change it to:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

Press Enter

2️⃣ Check if you now see the SQL query text in the preview

If yes → ✅ We’re ready for the next step
If no → ❌ Tell me what you see instead

This step converts the file’s raw binary data into readable text, so we can actually use the SQL inside it.

Let me know what happens! 😊

You said:

instead of the formula bar can i work in a larger editor? I don’t know if I’m seeing everything.

ChatGPT said:

Yes! You can work in the Advanced Editor, which gives you a bigger window to see everything.

Steps to Open the Advanced Editor

1️⃣ In the Power Query Editor, go to the Home tab.
2️⃣ Click Advanced Editor (it’s in the “Query” section).
3️⃣ A larger window will open with your full M code.

Now, update the code inside Advanced Editor:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

4️⃣ Click Done to apply the changes.

Now, check if the SQL text appears in the data preview. Let me know what you see! 😊

You said:

i’m sorry but what did you change?

ChatGPT said:

No worries! I didn’t change anything; I was just guiding you on how to work in the Advanced Editor instead of the small formula bar. The code inside Advanced Editor should be the same as what you already had:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

I just wanted you to have a larger space to view and edit it easily.

Did opening Advanced Editor help you see your full query better? And do you now see the SQL text in the data preview? 😊

You said:

yes. i see that.

ChatGPT said:

Great! 🎉 Now that you can see your SQL query in the data preview, the next step is to split it into multiple lines so it’s easier to read and modify inside Power Query.

Next Steps:

1️⃣ Split by Line Breaks

Click the small expand icon (🔽) in the column header if your SQL text is in a single row.
If it’s still in one long line, go to Transform → Split Column → By Delimiter, and choose Line Feed (\n) as the delimiter.

2️⃣ Trim and Clean Up

If you see extra spaces or empty lines, use Transform → Trim and Clean to fix them.

3️⃣ Verify & Proceed

Now, you should see each SQL statement on its own row in Power Query.
At this point, your SQL script is dynamic, and we can insert @startDate and @endDate from Excel.

Let me know what you see after step 1! 🚀

You said:

Wait a minute. I have the Advanced Editor open, i see the let source in source, etc. but I dont’ see any expand icons. Under display options should I change any of those options?

ChatGPT said:

Ah, I see where the confusion is! You’re in the Advanced Editor, which is where we see the Power Query M code, not the data preview.

To get to the data preview and see the expand icon, follow these steps:

Where You Should Be:

1️⃣ Close the Advanced Editor (if it’s open).
2️⃣ Look at the main Power Query window—this is where you should see a preview of your SQL file.

If you don’t see it, go to View → Make sure Data Preview is checked.
3️⃣ If the SQL script is in a single cell, click on the column header where the script is stored.
4️⃣ If an expand icon (🔽) appears in the column header, click it to expand the contents into multiple rows.
5️⃣ If the SQL script is in a single row and not expanding, go to Transform → Split Column → By Delimiter and choose Line Feed (\n).

Once you do this, you should see each SQL line in a separate row. Let me know what you see! 🚀

You said:

clarify, when you say preview of the sql file, what do you mean? I see source = text from binary. When you preview of your sql file, my mind thinks of seeing row numbers, select statements, etc.

ChatGPT said:

I understand the confusion. When I mention the data preview in the Power Query Editor, I’m referring to the section where you can see the contents of your data source displayed in a tabular format—rows and columns—similar to a spreadsheet view. This allows you to inspect and transform your data before loading it into Excel or Power BI.

Current Situation:

You’ve loaded a file using the M code:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

However, instead of seeing your SQL script split into rows (e.g., each SELECT statement on a separate line), you’re seeing the entire content as a single text blob in the data preview.

Objective:

To transform this single text blob into a more structured format where each line or statement of your SQL script appears in its own row within the Power Query Editor.

Steps to Structure Your SQL Script in Power Query:

Ensure Data Preview is Visible:
- In the Power Query Editor, navigate to the View tab.
- Ensure that Data Preview is checked. This will display the preview pane where you can see your data in a tabular format.
Split the Single Text Blob into Multiple Rows:
- If your entire SQL script is currently displayed in a single cell:
  - Select the column containing your SQL script.
  - Go to the Home tab, then click on Split Column > By Delimiter.
  - In the dialog box that appears:
    - Choose Custom as the delimiter.
    - Enter #(lf) (which represents a line feed, or newline character).
    - Select Advanced options and choose to split into Rows.
  - Click OK.
- This action will break your single text blob into multiple rows, each representing a line from your SQL script.
Clean Up the Data (Optional):
- You might notice extra spaces or empty lines after splitting. To clean this up:
  - With the column still selected, go to the Transform tab.
  - Click on Trim to remove leading and trailing spaces.
  - Click on Clean to remove non-printable characters.
  - To remove any empty rows:
    - Click on the drop-down arrow next to the column header.
    - Uncheck (null) or (blank).
    - Click OK.
Review the Structured Data:
- After performing these transformations, your data preview should now display each line of your SQL script in its own row.
- This structured format allows for easier reading and further manipulation if necessary.

Next Steps:

Now that your SQL script is structured within Power Query, you can proceed to:

Parameterize parts of your SQL script using Power Query parameters.
Replace specific placeholders in your SQL script with dynamic values from these parameters.
Load the modified SQL script into your desired destination (e.g., execute it against a database or save it as a new file).

If you encounter any issues during these steps or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

Sources

You said:

AHHHHHH. Let’s stop. I don’t think you we are on the same page. Is there anyway we can refer to this as something concrete.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Let’s use a specific name for what we are working on. From your screenshot, let’s call this “Query1: Load SQL File” so we can stay on the same page.

Right now, “Query1: Load SQL File” contains:

CopyEdit

let Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) in Source

Current Status:

This M code is reading a SQL file from the path stored in QueryFilePath.
However, you only see the text as a single block instead of individual lines in the Power Query data preview.
We need to split the SQL text into rows for better readability and modification.

Next Step (Confirm Your Data Preview)

Before proceeding, please confirm:

In Power Query Editor, do you see any text output in the preview pane?
- If yes, does it appear as one giant text block?
- If no, does it say something like “Binary” or “Error”?

Let me know what you see so we can proceed with the right fix!

You said:

oh that’s a mouthful. How about QL?

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! We’ll call it QL from now on.

So, in QL, do you see the SQL file’s content as:

A single long text block in the preview pane?
A [Binary] value instead of text?
An error message?

Let me know what you see so we can take the next step! 🚀

1/2

You said:

in the PQ editor, I have Query1 selected. I have in the formula bar, Source = Text.FromBinary(FileContents(QueryFilePath)). This is exact text is what is in the grey section below the formula bar.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! You’re seeing the M code (QL code) itself but not the actual SQL file contents.

Next Step: Expanding the SQL File Contents

We need to confirm that the text from the file is actually being read and displayed properly. Try this:

Click on the formula bar (where it says Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))).
Press Enter to refresh the query.
Look at the preview pane (below the formula bar).

If you see a long block of text (the SQL query), great! We can split it into rows next.
If it’s still just Source = Text.FromBinary(…), we may need to force a refresh or troubleshoot further.

Let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

it is still just source = text.frombinary

ChatGPT said:

Alright, let’s troubleshoot this step-by-step. It sounds like Power Query isn’t properly reading the file contents.

Step 1: Check the Parameter QueryFilePath

Let’s verify that QueryFilePath contains the correct path to your SQL file.

In Power Query Editor, go to the Queries pane on the left.
Click on QueryFilePath to open it.
In the preview pane, confirm the full file path (it should show the exact location of your .sql file).

If the file path is incorrect or missing, we need to fix that.
If the file path is correct, move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Manually Inspect the File

Just to be sure the file is accessible:

Open File Explorer and go to the file location.
Double-click the .sql file to ensure it opens and contains text.
If it does, Power Query should be able to read it.

Step 3: Modify the Query

If everything checks out, try modifying the query slightly:

Click on the formula bar and replace your code with:

CopyEdit

Source = File.Contents(QueryFilePath)

Press Enter and see if it loads any binary data in the preview pane.
- If it does, that’s good! We can transform it into text next.
- If it doesn’t, then Power Query isn’t recognizing the file, and we need another approach.

Try this and tell me what happens!

You said:

did we or did we not confirm when we were in advanced editor there were no syntax errors detected.

ChatGPT said:

Yes, we confirmed that there were no syntax errors detected in the Advanced Editor. That means the syntax itself is correct, but something is preventing Power Query from displaying the expected content.

Since your formula bar still shows only Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) with no preview, then the issue is likely one of these:

The file path isn’t resolving correctly.
- Even though QueryFilePath exists as a parameter, Power Query might not be accessing the file.
The file contents aren’t recognized correctly.
- If the file is empty or unreadable for any reason, Power Query might be stuck.

Let’s check two things:

✅ 1. Verify the raw file content as binary

Modify your query to just return the raw file:

CopyEdit

Source = File.Contents(QueryFilePath)

This should return some kind of binary preview.
If it does, we know the file is being read.
If not, then Power Query isn’t actually accessing it.

✅ 2. Manually re-enter the file path

Even though we already set QueryFilePath, try directly replacing it:

CopyEdit

Source = File.Contents(“C:\Full\Path\To\Your\File.sql”)

(Replace with your actual file path)

If this works, then QueryFilePath might not be resolving correctly.
If it still doesn’t work, then the issue is likely with file permissions or accessibility.

Try these and let me know what happens!

You said:

Okay….remember, we have the @startdate and @endDates commented out.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Your SQL file has @startDate and @endDate commented out, so those variables should not interfere with the file being read in Power Query.

Now, let’s focus on troubleshooting why Power Query isn’t displaying the file contents:

🔍 Step 1: Check if Power Query Can Read the File at All

Open Power Query Editor.
Select Query1.
Modify the formula bar to:

CopyEdit

Source = File.Contents(QueryFilePath)

If Power Query successfully reads the file, it should display binary data (not SQL text yet, just raw binary).
If you still see nothing, try:

CopyEdit

Source = File.Contents(“C:\Your\Exact\FilePath.sql”)

This ensures the issue isn’t with QueryFilePath.

🔍 Step 2: Convert Binary to Text

If Step 1 shows binary data, we need to convert it to text:

Modify Query1 to:

CopyEdit

Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

If this works, you should now see your SQL script in the data preview.

🚨 What to Do If It Still Doesn’t Work?

If Power Query still shows nothing, then:
- The file isn’t being accessed (check permissions and path).
- The file might be empty (open it in Notepad++ to confirm).

Let me know what happens after Step 1!

You said:

is there a way i can comment this out so I’m not having to retype it?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! You can comment out lines in Power Query (M language) using double forward slashes (//) for single-line comments or /* */ for multi-line comments.

Example: Commenting Out a Line

If you want to temporarily disable Text.FromBinary, you can do:

CopyEdit

// Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) Source = File.Contents(QueryFilePath)

Example: Multi-Line Comment

If you want to disable multiple lines, use:

CopyEdit

/* Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)) AnotherLineOfCode() */ Source = File.Contents(QueryFilePath)

This way, you don’t have to delete anything—just toggle the comments as needed! 🎯

You said:

you said select query1 and modify the formula. There was a big step you didn’t mention on how to get to modify the formula.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right! Let’s go step by step to make sure nothing is skipped.

How to Modify the Formula in Power Query Editor

Open Power Query Editor
- Go to Excel → Click Data → Queries & Connections
- Right-click Query1 → Choose Edit
Locate the Formula Bar
- Make sure the Formula Bar is visible
- If not, go to View → Check Formula Bar
Modify the Formula
- Click inside the Formula Bar (where it currently says Source = Text.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath)))
- Edit it as needed (e.g., adding comments or modifying the code)
Apply & Save
- Click Enter to confirm changes
- Click Close & Load to apply changes

Now you should be able to modify the formula directly without getting lost in hidden menus. 🔍

You said:

Okay. If you need me to edit something in the future, please instruct me to right click on the Query and use the Advanced Editor.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! From now on, I’ll specify that you should right-click the Query and use the Advanced Editor when modifying formulas. Let me know what you see after making the latest changes.

You said:

Great.. Now, i made the change and I see an icon with HSP Accounts.sql and 199 bytes.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! That means Power Query is successfully reading the SQL file. Now, let’s proceed with transforming the content so that we can inject the startDateParam and endDateParam dynamically.

Next Steps:

Click on the small expand icon next to HSP Accounts.sql (if available).
If no expand icon is visible, modify the formula to wrap Source in Lines.FromBinary(Source), like this:

CopyEdit

Source = Lines.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

Click Enter, and now you should see a table with a single column containing each line of the SQL file.

Let me know if you see that!

You said:

i don’t see a small expand icon

ChatGPT said:

No problem! Let’s manually adjust the formula to extract the content properly.

Steps:

Open Advanced Editor (Right-click Query1 > Advanced Editor).
Modify the existing formula to this:

CopyEdit

Source = Lines.FromBinary(File.Contents(QueryFilePath))

Click Done.

Now, you should see a table where each row represents a line of your SQL file. Let me know what happens!

You said:

awesome. I see SQL code.

ChatGPT said:

Fantastic! 🎉 Now we’re in business!

At this point, you should see each line of your SQL code in a table format. The next step is to convert this table into a single text string so that Power Query can pass it correctly to your SQL query.

Let’s do this:

Transform Tab → Click “Combine” → “Combine Text” (or “Extract Values” if you’re on an older version).
Use a New Line (#(lf)) as the separator.
Click OK.

Now, your SQL script should be a single text value. Let me know if you see that! 🚀

You said:

in the future, when you say to go to something in a given tab, please direct me to what section it is in

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! I’ll make sure to specify the section when guiding you through menus. Let me know what you need next.

You said:

i don’t see combine at all

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to double-check. Let’s make sure you’re in the right place:

Confirm You’re in Power Query Editor
- You should see your SQL file preview in a table format.
- The “Queries” pane on the left should show your loaded file.
Go to the “Transform” Tab
- In the “Table” section, look for “Parse” or “Text Tools”.
- If “Combine” isn’t there, try “Extract” instead.

Let me know if you still don’t see it, and we’ll figure it out!

You said:

Table has group by, ude first row as headers, tranpose, reverse rows, count rows. Everything seems greyed out.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! The issue is likely that the file is still being treated as a single binary object rather than text. Let’s try this:

Steps to Fix:

Check the Column Type
- Click on the column where your SQL code is displayed (it may say “Binary” or have a file icon).
- If it’s a Binary column, go to the Transform Tab → Click Extract → Text from Binary.
Ensure You See the SQL Code as Text
- Once extracted, you should see your SQL code in rows.
Now Look for “Split Column”
- Go to the Transform Tab → Look for Split Column (under “Text Column” section).
- Choose By Delimiter → Select Line Feed (\n) → Click OK.

This should split your SQL file into separate rows based on line breaks. Let me know if it works!

You said:

it says list

ChatGPT said:

Ah! Since it says List, that means the SQL file is being read as a list of lines rather than a single text column.

Steps to Convert the List into a Table:

Click on the “List” value in the column (this should navigate inside the list).
In the top-left Transform Tab, click To Table.
- If a dialog box appears, just click OK (default settings).
Now, the SQL code should appear as a single-column table where each row is a line of the SQL file.

Once you do this, you should be able to split, filter, or modify the SQL code as needed. Let me know if you see the table now!

You said:

to table appears if i right click on it

ChatGPT said:

Yes! Go ahead and right-click on “List” and choose To Table.

If a dialog box appears, just click OK to accept the default settings.
This will convert the list into a single-column table, where each row represents a line of your SQL file.

Let me know once you see the table!

You said:

it is the same but it says column1 now

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now:

Go to the “Transform” tab (in Power Query).
Click “Use First Row as Headers” (if applicable).
Now, check if your SQL code looks structured properly.

Do you see the SQL code in a more readable format now?

You said:

if i hit the pull down it gives me 2 options, use first row as headers or use headers as first row

ChatGPT said:

Choose “Use First Row as Headers.” That should promote your SQL code’s first line into a proper header.

Once you do that, does the SQL text look structured properly in rows now?

You said:

header = abc icon –DECLARE @startDate Date = ‘2025-03-09’ the first non header row is the second line of the sql code.

ChatGPT said:

That’s expected because your SQL file includes a DECLARE statement at the top. If you want to remove that first row (since it’s just a variable declaration), you can follow these steps:

Go to the “Home” tab (in the Power Query Editor).
Click “Remove Rows” → “Remove Top Rows.”
Enter “1” (to remove just the first row).
Click OK.

This should remove the DECLARE @startDate line and shift everything up. After that, your SQL query should start on the second row as expected.

You said:

yes, but the header is still that first declare statement that was commented out

ChatGPT said:

Got it! The issue is that Power Query automatically treated the first row as the header. You can fix this by:

Go to the “Transform” tab (in Power Query Editor).
Click “Use First Row as Headers.”
This will set the correct SQL keywords as headers instead of the DECLARE statement.

Let me know if the headers still look wrong after this!

You said:

wait a minute, don’t we just want to rename the header from –DECLARE blah blah to something else? Isn’t that better than to revisit the first row as headers which we already did?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! Renaming the header is the better approach in this case.

To do that:

Right-click on “Column1” in the table.
Choose “Rename” and give it a meaningful name (e.g., SQLCode).

This way, we don’t mess with the structure of the data again. Let me know if that works!

You said:

got it.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now that the SQL code is structured properly, you’re in great shape to start parameterizing the query. What’s next on your agenda? Do you want to replace the hardcoded dates with your Excel parameters?

You said:

yes, i want to do that. The reason we applied this and extracted the code was I’m assuming to transform it into a variable the master sql with the excel parameters will be able to read.

ChatGPT said:

Exactly! Now that we’ve extracted the SQL code as a structured table, we can replace the hardcoded date values with references to your startDateParam and endDateParam parameters.

Steps to Parameterize the Query:

Filter Out Commented Lines (Optional but Recommended)
- If you still have commented-out lines (like –DECLARE @startDate Date = ‘2025-03-09’), you can filter them out.
- Click on the filter dropdown of Column1, and deselect any lines that start with –DECLARE.
Replace Hardcoded Date Values with Parameters
- Click Transform > Replace Values.
- Find the hardcoded @startDate value (e.g., ‘2025-03-09’) and replace it with ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘.
- Do the same for @endDate.
Convert Back to a Single Query Text Block
- Select Transform > Combine > Combine Text (or use Text.Combine([Column1], ” “) in the Advanced Editor).
- This stitches the SQL back together into a single query string.
Load the Parameterized Query into Your Final Query
- Reference this transformed SQL query in your database connection step.
- If necessary, wrap it in Text.Combine() again before feeding it into your database connection.

Does that make sense? Do you want me to walk through each step, or do you feel comfortable tackling it?

You said:

no commented lines just blank ones.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Since there are no commented lines, we’ll just remove blank rows and proceed with replacing the hardcoded dates.

Steps:

Remove Blank Rows
- Click on the Column1 dropdown (filter icon).
- Uncheck (null) or any empty rows.
Replace Hardcoded Dates with Parameters
- Go to Transform > Replace Values.
- Replace the exact hardcoded @startDate value (e.g., ‘2025-03-09’) with ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘.
- Replace the @endDate value the same way.
Combine the Rows into a Single Query String
- Select Transform > Combine > Combine Text (or use Text.Combine([Column1], ” “) in the Advanced Editor).
Use This Query as the SQL Command in Your Database Connection
- Ensure your database query references this final transformed text.

Would you like a step-by-step for applying Text.Combine() in the Advanced Editor?

You said:

if you don’t mind, give me the exact text string for startdate and enddate

ChatGPT said:

Sure! Here’s the exact text string for replacing the hardcoded dates with your parameters:

For Start Date replacement:

bash

CopyEdit

‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘

For End Date replacement:

bash

CopyEdit

‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘

This will dynamically insert the values from your startDateParam and endDateParam into the SQL query when it runs.

Let me know if you need help applying this in the Replace Values step or the Advanced Editor!

You said:

and I’m looking for @startDate as my first find and replace, then @endDate

ChatGPT said:

Yes, exactly! Here’s how you should apply the Find and Replace:

Find: @startDate
Replace with: ‘” & Text.From(startDateParam) & “‘
Find: @endDate
Replace with: ‘” & Text.From(endDateParam) & “‘

Make sure to include the single quotes (‘) around the replaced values, as SQL expects them for date literals.

If your SQL uses @startDate and @endDate multiple times, ensure you replace all instances.

Let me know if anything looks off!

You said:

I think that’s it.

ChatGPT said:

Fantastic! 🎉 Now, try running your query in Power BI (or Excel, wherever you’re executing it) and confirm that it’s pulling the expected data based on your dynamically set dates.

If anything looks off, we can troubleshoot further. Otherwise, congratulations—you’ve successfully parameterized your SQL query in Power Query! 🚀

You said:

as soon as i left PQ editor a tab opened, and Query1 appeared with the SQLCode header and the SQL script.

ChatGPT said:

That means it loaded the transformed data as a table in Excel instead of keeping it as a connection. You probably need to change its load settings to “Only Create Connection.”

Right-click on Query1 in the “Queries & Connections” pane → Click Load To… → Select Only Create Connection → Click OK.

Then, check if everything still works as expected.

You said:

ok, how do I load it on a excel sheet?

ChatGPT said:

To load Query1 onto an Excel sheet:

Open the Queries & Connections pane (if it’s not already open).
- Go to Data → Click Queries & Connections (in the Queries & Connections section).
Right-click on Query1 → Click Load To…
In the Import Data window:
- Choose Table (default option).
- Select the Existing worksheet and click on a cell where you want the table to appear.
- Click OK.

Your SQL script should now appear in an Excel table format.

You said:

nope. Still the sql code.

ChatGPT said:

It sounds like the data is still in a single-column format rather than properly split into rows and columns. Let’s try reloading it as plain text:

Option 1: Convert to Plain Text in Excel

Select the SQL Code Column in Excel.
Go to Data → Click Text to Columns.
Choose Delimited → Click Next.
Select Other and enter a delimiter (e.g., semicolon ; or space if your SQL statements are space-separated).
Click Finish to break the SQL script into separate columns if needed.

Option 2: Re-check Query Load Type

Open the Queries & Connections pane.
Right-click on Query1 → Click Edit to open Power Query Editor.
Check if the column is still structured as a List or Table:
- If it’s still a List, right-click → To Table.
- If it’s a Table but everything is in one row, try Split Column (Transform tab) using line breaks as the delimiter.
Click Close & Load again.

Let me know what you see!

You said:

WHAT? why would I convert a sql script into text into columns. That’s going to just change it to Select next column har next column HSP_ACCOUNT next column etc. I don’t think we’re recognizing it’s not pulling data.

ChatGPT said:

You’re absolutely right to push back on that! Let’s take a step back and focus on what should be happening.

Right now, we expect Query1 to be an executable SQL script with the correct parameters in place. But it’s still just showing the raw SQL text instead of executing. That means we need to confirm:

Did you connect Query1 to your database?
- Right now, it’s just loading the SQL as text into Excel, not actually running it.
- We need to pass this query to a database connection and execute it.
Next Steps: Running the Query in Power Query
- Open Power Query Editor.
- Start a New Query → Get Data → From Database (choose the correct type, like SQL Server).
- Instead of manually writing SQL, reference Query1 as the source.

Does this sound like what you’re trying to achieve?

You said:

yes.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Here’s the step-by-step guide to actually executing Query1 against your database:

Step 1: Connect to Your Database

Open Power Query Editor (Click on any query → Transform Data).
Click New Source → Choose From Database (e.g., SQL Server).
Enter your server name and database name (if required).
Choose Advanced Options → In the SQL Statement box, type:

sql

CopyEdit

SELECT 1 AS TestConnection

This is just a dummy query to verify the connection.
Click OK and Connect (Enter credentials if prompted).

Step 2: Modify the Query to Use Your SQL Code

In Power Query, find the new database query (let’s call it DatabaseQuery).
Click Advanced Editor.
Replace the Source = line with this:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(DatabaseQuery, Query1)

This will pass Query1 (your SQL script) into the database and execute it.
Click Done.
Check if data loads instead of just showing SQL text.

Step 3: Load the Data into Excel

Click Close & Load → Close & Load to…
Choose Table and pick a worksheet.
Excel should now show actual query results instead of just SQL text.

Troubleshooting:

If an error appears, check:
- Query1 should NOT be a list—it must be a single text string.
- Ensure Query1 is properly replacing parameters (@startDate, @endDate).
- If Power Query complains about permissions, change Privacy Settings in Power Query Options.

Try this and let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

where tf is New Source? i swear I’m getting worn out trying to navigate this site. Everything is in small lower case.

ChatGPT said:

I hear you! Power Query’s UI is not the most intuitive. Let’s take a breath and go step by step.

Where to Find “New Source”

Open Power Query Editor
- If you’re in Excel, go to Data → Get Data → Launch Power Query Editor
- OR, if Power Query is already open, skip to Step 2.
Find the “New Source” Button
- It’s in the Home Tab, first section on the left.
- It might be a dropdown labeled New Source (tiny text, I know).
Click “New Source” → Choose From Database
- If you’re using SQL Server, choose SQL Server
- If another database, pick the right one (MySQL, Oracle, etc.).

If you still don’t see it, tell me what you do see in the Power Query Editor Home tab, and we’ll adjust.

You said:

but didn’t you say to go to the transform section first?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to call that out! We were in Transform mode before, but now we’re shifting gears to actually connect to the database and pull in live data using our transformed SQL query.

So now, go to:

Power Query Editor
Home Tab (not Transform)
Look for New Source → From Database

Once we get there, we’ll enter the SQL connection details and run the modified script. Let me know when you’re there!

You said:

Okay!

ChatGPT said:

Awesome! Now:

Select From SQL Server Database (or the database type you’re using).
Enter your server name and database name in the dialog box.
Click Advanced Options, and in the SQL Statement box, enter:

sql

CopyEdit

SELECT * FROM Query1

(or whatever your transformed query name is).

Hit OK, and let’s see if it returns data!

You said:

okay. I found new source.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now:

Click New Source → From SQL Server Database (or your database type).
Enter your server name and database name in the dialog box.
Click Advanced Options, and in the SQL Statement box, enter:

sql

CopyEdit

SELECT * FROM Query1

(assuming Query1 is your transformed SQL script).

Click OK and check if it returns data.

Let me know what happens!

You said:

dude! you need to tell me which option to select.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right! Here’s exactly what to do:

Click New Source (found in the Home tab, under the Get & Transform Data section).
Select From Other Sources → From SQL Server (or your specific database type).
In the dialog box that appears:
- Enter your Server Name and Database Name.
- Click Advanced Options to expand more settings.
In the SQL Statement box, enter:

sql

CopyEdit

SELECT * FROM Query1

(assuming Query1 is your transformed SQL script).

Click OK and check if data loads.

Let me know if you get stuck!

You said:

New Source > Database > SQL Server is the one that has SQL Server

ChatGPT said:

Yes! Follow these steps precisely:

Click New Source → Database → SQL Server.
In the SQL Server database window:
- Enter your Server Name.
- Enter your Database Name (if required).
- Click Advanced Options to expand more settings.
In the SQL statement (optional) box, enter:

sql

CopyEdit

SELECT * FROM Query1

(assuming Query1 is your transformed SQL script—if it’s named differently, use that name instead).

Click OK and proceed through the prompts to connect.
If prompted, choose Windows Authentication or enter database credentials.
Once connected, confirm that the data loads correctly into Power Query.

Let me know what happens!

You said:

server name = is that the connection with the dots?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! The Server Name is usually in the format:

SERVERNAME\INSTANCE (e.g., MyServer\SQLExpress)
IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) (e.g., sqlserver.company.com)

If you’re unsure, check with your IT team or open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to see what you use to connect there.

If you see a connection string with dots (like .\SQLEXPRESS or (local)), that usually refers to your local machine’s SQL instance.

Try entering what you usually use to connect to your SQL database and let me know what happens!

You said:

okay i did that and a new dialog box appears. I recognize the common database we use.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Select the database that contains the tables you want to work with, then click OK or Next (depending on the options available).

Let me know what you see next!

You said:

do i just select the top one and click one?

ChatGPT said:

If the top one is the correct database you need, then yes, select it and click OK (or Next if that option appears).

If you’re unsure, double-check the database name to make sure it’s the one you want to query. Let me know what you see next!

You said:

now i have a long table with name data schema item and kind. is that right?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, that’s right! You’re now seeing a list of all the tables, views, and other database objects available in the selected database.

Now, do you see the “SQL” or “Advanced” option at the bottom of the window? If so, click that so we can paste in your transformed SQL query instead of selecting a table directly.

You said:

no, i dont’ see anything below the table. the query settings has the name and we have applied steps.

ChatGPT said:

It sounds like you’ve already loaded the database structure into Power Query instead of using a direct SQL query. No worries—let’s back up a step.

Try This:

Cancel out of the current screen if possible.
Click New Source > Database > SQL Server again.
Enter the Server Name and click OK (like before).
This time, look carefully for an “Advanced” or “SQL Statement” option in the connection window.
Paste your transformed SQL query (the one with the parameters replaced).
Click OK and see if it returns data.

Let me know if you see the option this time!

You said:

how do i cancel?

ChatGPT said:

If you’re still in the Navigator window (where you see the table with “Name, Data, Schema, Item, Kind”), look for a Cancel button at the bottom.

If there’s no Cancel button:

Try clicking Close (if available).
If that doesn’t work, press the Esc key.
If you’re stuck, click X on the top-right of the Power Query Editor window to close it.

Once you’re back to Power Query, we’ll retry the correct method. Let me know what happens!

You said:

i just see close & load

ChatGPT said:

Click the “X” in the top-right corner of the window to exit. If that doesn’t work, try hitting Esc on your keyboard.

Let me know once you’re back out so we can retry the correct steps!

You said:

that closed power query editor entirely

ChatGPT said:

No worries! Just reopen Power Query Editor by going to Queries & Connections, right-clicking the query you were working on, and selecting Edit.

Once you’re back in, we’ll navigate carefully to the right step. Let me know when you’re there!

You said:

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now, let’s get back to where we left off.

In Power Query Editor, look at the Applied Steps pane on the right.
Click the last step before the unwanted results appeared.
- This should take you back to the point before you loaded the long table.
Now, let’s carefully connect to your SQL Server database the correct way.

Are you back at the right step? If you’re unsure, tell me the last Applied Step you see.

You said:

i have replaced value and replaced value1

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! That means we’re right before we tried to connect to the SQL Server. Now, let’s carefully add the database connection properly:

Click on New Source in the Home tab.
Select Database > SQL Server.
Enter the Server Name (the one with dots).
Leave Database optional for now and click OK.
In the Navigator, instead of selecting a table, click “Advanced”.
Paste the transformed SQL script from Query1 into the SQL Statement box.
Click OK and let it run.

Tell me if you see the correct data preview or if anything looks off!

You said:

i see a subhead under the database with the familiar databases. I see no advanced

ChatGPT said:

Alright! You’re in the Navigator window, and you see the databases listed. Here’s what to do next:

Instead of selecting a database, look at the bottom of the Navigator window.
Do you see a box that says “Enable SQL Server Native Query” or something similar?
If so, check that box—this should reveal the SQL Statement box.
Paste your Query1 SQL script into that box.
Click OK and let it run.

If you don’t see the SQL box, let me know what you see at the bottom of the window!

You said:

i see nothing like that

ChatGPT said:

Alright, no worries! It sounds like the Advanced options might not be visible by default. Let’s try this instead:

Cancel out of the Navigator window.
Go back to Get Data > SQL Server (like you did before).
In the SQL Server database window:
- Enter your server name again.
- Now, look for a button or section labeled “Advanced Options.”
Click that, and it should reveal a SQL Statement box.
Paste your Query1 SQL script into that box.
Click OK and let it run.

Let me know if you find that SQL box or if you see something different!

You said:

where am i pasting it from?

ChatGPT said:

You’re pasting it from Query1 in Power Query (where we processed the SQL script).

To get the SQL code:

Go to Power Query Editor.
Select Query1 from the left panel.
Look at the data preview—it should have a single column with your SQL script.
Copy the entire script from the preview.

Once copied, paste it into the SQL Statement box under Advanced Options in the SQL Server database window.

Let me know if anything looks off!

You said:

HOW? you’re not giving me enough instruction. Is there a place where it’s the entire text, that isn’t the formula window?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! You can get the full SQL script without dealing with the formula bar. Here’s how:

Copy the Full SQL Script from Query1

Open Power Query Editor (Data > Queries & Connections > Right-click Query1 > Edit).
Select Query1 in the left sidebar.
In the top ribbon, go to Transform > Click Extract Values (under the “Text Column” section).
In the Extract Values dialog box, choose a delimiter (you can just pick None or a space). Click OK.
Now, your SQL code will appear as a single text entry in the preview pane.
Right-click the SQL text and choose Copy.

Paste It into the SQL Server Query Box

Go back to the SQL Server database connection window.
Click Advanced Options (if you don’t see it, scroll down).
In the SQL Statement box, paste the SQL script you just copied.
Click OK to proceed.

This ensures you’re pasting a clean, full SQL query into the connection window. Let me know if you hit a snag!

You said:

I just see just Extract. and under extract it is length, find characters, last characters, range, text before delimiter, text after delimiter, and text between delimiters.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Since Extract Values isn’t available, let’s take a different approach to copy the SQL code properly:

How to Copy the Full SQL Code from Query1

Open Power Query Editor
- Go to Data > Queries & Connections
- Right-click Query1 and select Edit
Convert the Column to a Single Text Value
- Click on the Column1 header (your SQL script).
- Go to Transform > Combine Values (or “Merge Columns” depending on your version).
- Choose a Custom Delimiter (just leave it blank or use a space).
- Click OK.
Copy the Resulting Text
- You should now see the entire SQL script in a single row.
- Right-click the text and choose Copy.
Paste It into the SQL Server Query Box
- Go back to the SQL Server database connection window.
- Scroll down and click Advanced Options.
- Paste your copied SQL code into the SQL Statement box.
- Click OK to proceed.

Let me know if something looks off!

You said:

Okay. When I go to Query1 there is no edit, it is just the advanced editor.

ChatGPT said:

That works too! If Edit isn’t available and you only see Advanced Editor, do this instead:

Copy the SQL Code from Advanced Editor

Open Power Query Editor
- Go to Data > Queries & Connections
- Right-click Query1 and select Advanced Editor
Copy the Code
- In the Advanced Editor, find the line that starts with:

CopyEdit

Source = …

Copy everything inside the Text.Combine(…) or the full SQL script if it’s already shown.
Paste into SQL Server Query Box
- Return to the SQL Server database connection window
- Scroll down and click Advanced Options
- Paste the SQL script into the SQL Statement box
- Click OK

Let me know if you run into any issues!

You said:

so i’m clear I am ignorning the let and in

ChatGPT said:

Yes, exactly! Ignore the let and in parts.

You’re only copying the SQL code that’s inside Text.Combine(…) (or whatever contains your actual SQL query). Paste just the SQL query into the SQL Statement box in the database connection window.

Let me know if you need help spotting the right part!

You said:

i see let, then source = , #converted to table, promoted headers, changed type, etc all the way to the final in

ChatGPT said:

You’re in the Advanced Editor, which is good! Now, look for the part that contains Text.Combine(…) or the section where the SQL query is stored as text.

You’ll want to ignore the let and in statements and only copy the SQL query itself. It should be inside the Text.Combine(…) or Source = line, formatted as text.

Once you find that, copy just the SQL statement and paste it into the SQL Statement box in the database connection window.

Let me know if you need help spotting it!

You said:

i don’t see text.combine(…)

ChatGPT said:

Okay! Since you don’t see Text.Combine(…), let’s look for another way the SQL query might be stored in the Advanced Editor.

Scan through the code for any large block of text.
- Look for Source = followed by a long string of text, likely enclosed in quotes (“).
- If it’s broken into multiple lines, it might be inside a #”Changed Type” or #”Promoted Headers” step.
If it’s formatted as a table, look for the column containing the SQL query.
- There might be something like #”Converted to Table” or #”SQLCode Column”.
- If you see a table transformation, you might need to extract that column as text.
Copy the SQL query.
- Once you find the part where the SQL script is stored, copy the full SQL query text.
- Ignore any Power Query (M) syntax like let and in.

If you’re still not seeing it, let me know exactly what you see after Source =—that should help pinpoint where the SQL is stored!

You said:

yes to #1

ChatGPT said:

Great! Since you’ve found the SQL query as a long string after Source =, we now need to modify it to dynamically insert your startDateParam and endDateParam values.

Next Steps:

Find where the @startDate and @endDate appear in the SQL query.
- Look for ‘2025-03-09’ (or whatever hardcoded dates are there).
Replace them with the Power Query parameters.
- Modify the SQL query to use:

CopyEdit

Text.Replace(Source, “@startDate”, startDateParam)

and

CopyEdit

Text.Replace(Source, “@endDate”, endDateParam)

Final Modification:
- Wrap these replacements into Text.Combine, like this:

CopyEdit

Source = Text.Combine({ Text.Replace(Text.Replace(Source, “@startDate”, startDateParam), “@endDate”, endDateParam) })

Click “Done” and check if the modified query works.

Try this and let me know if you run into any issues! 🚀

You said:

yes, it is table.replacevalue(#replaced value, “@enddate”, ….

ChatGPT said:

Awesome! Since you’re seeing Table.ReplaceValue, that means Power Query is handling the replacements at the table level. Now, let’s make sure it’s correctly swapping @startDate and @endDate with your Excel parameters.

Steps to Verify & Adjust if Needed:

Look at the Table.ReplaceValue function.
- It should follow this structure:

CopyEdit

Table.ReplaceValue(#”PreviousStep”, “@startDate”, startDateParam, Replacer.ReplaceText, {“SQLCode”})

and

CopyEdit

Table.ReplaceValue(#”PreviousStep”, “@endDate”, endDateParam, Replacer.ReplaceText, {“SQLCode”})

Make sure the last argument { “SQLCode” } refers to the actual column name holding the SQL query.
Click “Done” and check the preview.
- Make sure the @startDate and @endDate values have changed to the actual date values from Excel.

If Something Looks Off:

If @startDate or @endDate are still visible in the query preview, double-check that startDateParam and endDateParam hold the correct date values.
If you get an error, let me know what it says, and I’ll help troubleshoot!

Let me know if this works! 🚀

You said:

no idea what you mean by make sure the last argument….

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Let me clarify.

In Power Query, the function Table.ReplaceValue replaces specific text inside a column. The last argument, { “SQLCode” }, tells Power Query which column contains the text we want to modify.

What You Need to Check:

Find the Table.ReplaceValue line in the Advanced Editor.
Look at the very end of the line. It should have something like this:

CopyEdit

Table.ReplaceValue(#”PreviousStep”, “@startDate”, startDateParam, Replacer.ReplaceText, {“SQLCode”})

The last part {“SQLCode”} is the column name where we are replacing @startDate.
If your column isn’t named SQLCode, then this needs to match the actual column name.
Do the same for @endDate

CopyEdit

Table.ReplaceValue(#”PreviousStep”, “@endDate”, endDateParam, Replacer.ReplaceText, {“SQLCode”})

How to Check Your Column Name:

Look at your Power Query preview table (the one with SQL text).
What is the column name? If it’s not SQLCode, you need to change {“SQLCode”} in the formula to match.

💡 Example:

If the column name is “QueryText”, change { “SQLCode” } → { “QueryText” }
If the column name is “Column1”, change { “SQLCode” } → { “Column1” }

Would you like me to guide you on checking your column name in Power Query? 🚀

You said:

yes: ,Replacer.ReplaceText,(‘SQLCode’)]

ChatGPT said:

I see the issue! You used square brackets [‘SQLCode’] instead of curly braces {“SQLCode”}.

Correct Syntax:

Change this:

CopyEdit

,Replacer.ReplaceText, [‘SQLCode’]]

To this:

CopyEdit

,Replacer.ReplaceText, {“SQLCode”})

Why?

Curly braces {} → Used for referencing a column in Power Query.
Square brackets [] → Used for record fields, which isn’t what we need here.

✅ Fix that, hit Done, and let me know if the error clears up! 🚀

You said:

i was just being lazy to give you the idea of what it said, I’m sorry for not being exact. I’ve confirmed it is {}

ChatGPT said:

Got it! No worries—I appreciate the confirmation. Since the syntax looks correct, let’s troubleshoot further:

Check for Errors in the Query Preview:
- After applying the change, do you see any yellow error triangles in the Power Query data preview?
- If so, click on one to see the error message.
Ensure SQLCode Column Exists:
- Go to Transform > Data Type and check if the SQLCode column is text format (not number or other types).
- If the column name changed, update {“SQLCode”} to match the actual column name.
Manually Test the Find/Replace:
- Try replacing just “@startDate” in a new Replace Value step (without the full formula).
- If it works, then replace “@endDate”.
Confirm Power Query Recognizes the Query as Text:
- Click on the SQLCode column. In the Transform tab, is “Extract” or “Text Functions” available?
- If not, Power Query may not see it as text. Convert it:
  - Transform > Data Type > Text

Try these steps and let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

there wasn’t any change to make. No syntax error. and where is the power query data preview? The PQ preview right now just has the column named SQL code and 3 lines of code for select from and where

ChatGPT said:

Perfect—since there’s no syntax error and you’re seeing SQL code in the preview, we’re in good shape!

Confirming the Data Preview:

The Power Query Data Preview is the area below the formula bar where you see the SQLCode column with three lines of SQL code. Since you see actual SQL statements there, Power Query has applied the transformations correctly so far.

Next Steps:

Now, we need to pass this modified SQL code to the database so it executes dynamically with the @startDate and @endDate replacements.

1️⃣ Convert the Table Back into a Single SQL Query String

Right now, your SQL code is still in multiple rows. To execute it, we need to combine those rows into a single query string.

Do this:

Go to the “Transform” tab
Click “Extract” → “Combine Text” (if available)
If not available, use the Advanced Editor and manually add this step:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(SQLCode[SQLCode], ” “)

This step ensures all SQL lines are joined together into a single text query with spaces between them.

2️⃣ Use This Query as the SQL Command

Now, go back to New Source > SQL Server
This time, instead of picking a table, click on “Advanced”
Paste FinalQuery (or whatever you named it) into the SQL statement box
Click OK

3️⃣ Load Data to Excel

Once Power Query runs the query dynamically, just click “Close & Load” to push the results into Excel!

Let me know if you see any issues or unexpected behavior! 🚀

You said:

am i clicking on anything before i do this?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! Before applying the transformation, make sure you have your Query1 selected in Power Query so that we’re working on the right dataset.

Steps (with exact clicks):

1️⃣ Click on Query1 in the left-side “Queries” pane (this ensures we modify the correct query).

2️⃣ Go to the “Transform” tab at the top.

3️⃣ Look for the “Extract” section in the ribbon.

If “Combine Text” is available, click it.
If it’s not there, move to Step 4.

4️⃣ If “Combine Text” is missing, open the Advanced Editor:

Right-click Query1 → Click “Advanced Editor”
Find the last step before in
Add this line just above in:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Previous Step”[SQLCode], ” “)

Modify #”Previous Step” to match the actual last step in your query.

5️⃣ Click “Done” and confirm that FinalQuery now contains a single line of SQL in the preview.

Once this is done, we’ll pass it to SQL Server. Let me know when you reach this point! 🚀

You said:

it is not there

ChatGPT said:

No worries! We’ll do this manually in the Advanced Editor.

Steps to Combine SQL into a Single Text String:

1️⃣ Right-click on Query1 → Select “Advanced Editor”

2️⃣ Find the last step before in (it should look something like #”Replaced Value1″).

3️⃣ Add this line just above in:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

If the last step is named something else (not #”Replaced Value1″), use that name instead.

4️⃣ Modify the final in statement so that it returns FinalQuery instead of the previous step:

CopyEdit

in FinalQuery

5️⃣ Click “Done” ✅

Now, FinalQuery should be a single text string containing your entire SQL query.

Once you’ve done this, let me know what you see in the Power Query data preview! 🚀

You said:

but there are two replace value statements, one for start date and one for end date

ChatGPT said:

Good catch! Since there are two Replace Value steps, we need to use the last step in the sequence.

Steps to Combine SQL into a Single Text String:

1️⃣ Right-click on Query1 → Select “Advanced Editor”

2️⃣ Find the last step before in (it will be the second #”Replaced Value” step).

3️⃣ Add this new line just above in:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

If the last step is not named #”Replaced Value1″, use the actual last step’s name.

4️⃣ Modify the in statement so it returns FinalQuery:

CopyEdit

in FinalQuery

5️⃣ Click “Done” ✅

Now, check the Power Query data preview—it should display your full SQL script as one continuous string instead of separate rows.

Let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

we aren’t doing anything with Replaced Value?

ChatGPT said:

We are using #”Replaced Value1″, but only in the Text.Combine function.

To clarify:

#”Replaced Value” and #”Replaced Value1″ are steps where we replaced @startDate and @endDate.
We are not modifying them, just using the last one to combine everything into a single text string.

You only add the new FinalQuery step after the last replacement step.

Let me know if that makes sense or if you need me to reword it! 🚀

You said:

yeah reword that. Coming from a vba background, a find and replace would be var = replace(x,y) and var1 = replace(z,y). Since we had ended having done the changes, the next step would be the changed document with all the replacements complete.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Think of it like this:

Each Replaced Value step is like running Replace() in VBA.
We did two replacements:
1. First, we replaced @startDate → StartDateParam (stored in #”Replaced Value”).
2. Then, we replaced @endDate → EndDateParam (stored in #”Replaced Value1″).

At this point, #”Replaced Value1″ is our final cleaned-up SQL script, still in table form.

Now, we need to take that final table and combine all its rows into a single SQL query string:

Instead of using another “replace” step, we use Text.Combine() to merge everything into one big text string.
This is what FinalQuery does.

So the new step comes after everything and looks like:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode] → Grabs all rows from the column “SQLCode”.
” ” → Joins them with a space between each line.
Now, FinalQuery is a single, complete SQL command.

So VBA analogy:

vba

CopyEdit

SQLCode = Replace(SQLCode, “@startDate”, StartDateParam) SQLCode = Replace(SQLCode, “@endDate”, EndDateParam) FinalQuery = Join(SQLCode, ” “) ‘ Joins all the lines into a single query

Does that make sense?

You said:

okay, that’s what tripped me that replaced value1 represents all the rows.

ChatGPT said:

Yep! #”Replaced Value1″ still holds all the rows—it’s just the table after both replacements.

Now, Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “) flattens that table column into a single SQL string.

Once you run that step, your SQL query is ready to be passed into the database! 🚀

You said:

okay. So i have above the in, the following code: FinalQuery = text.combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode],” “)

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now, just update the in statement so that it returns FinalQuery instead of #”Replaced Value1″:

CopyEdit

in FinalQuery

This will make the Power Query output a single text value—your fully formatted SQL query—instead of a table. 🚀

You said:

what’s next?

ChatGPT said:

Now that Power Query outputs the fully formatted SQL query as a single text value, the next step is to pass this query into a SQL Server database connection and execute it.

Steps to Execute the Query in SQL Server:

Create a New Query in Power Query
- Go to Power Query Editor
- Click New Source → Database → SQL Server
Enter Server & Database Details
- Enter your SQL Server name
- Choose the database where the query should run
Use the M Query to Run Dynamic SQL
- In the Advanced Options section, find the box labeled “SQL statement”
- Paste this inside:

CopyEdit

= FinalQuery

Click OK
Load the Results into Excel
- Power Query will now execute your dynamic SQL query
- Click Close & Load to bring the data into an Excel sheet

This should now dynamically fetch data based on the startDate and endDate Excel parameters! 🎉

You said:

i have a yellow triangle next to database

ChatGPT said:

That yellow triangle usually indicates a connection issue with the database. Let’s troubleshoot:

Steps to Fix the Yellow Triangle Issue

Check the Error Message
- Click on the yellow triangle.
- Power Query should display an error message—what does it say?
Verify Server & Database Connection
- Go to Data → Get Data → Data Source Settings
- Check if your SQL Server and database credentials are correct.
- If using Windows Authentication, ensure you have permission to access the database.
- If using SQL Authentication, try re-entering your username and password.
Check Query Syntax
- Open Advanced Editor in Power Query.
- Verify that FinalQuery contains a valid SQL statement.
- If needed, copy the generated SQL and run it manually in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to check for syntax errors.
Refresh the Connection
- Try refreshing the query (right-click on it in Power Query and select Refresh Preview).
Check Firewall or VPN
- If you are working remotely, a firewall or VPN might be blocking access to SQL Server.
- Try connecting from a different network or checking with your IT department.

Check these and let me know what the error message says! 🚀

You said:

please enter a value

ChatGPT said:

That “Please enter a value” error suggests that Power Query is expecting a parameter or input value that hasn’t been set. Here’s how to fix it:

Possible Causes & Fixes

1️⃣ Check QueryFilePath (or Any Parameters)

Go to Queries & Connections (Right Panel in Excel).
Find QueryFilePath (or any other parameter queries).
Right-click and choose Edit.
Check if it has a valid file path (for loading the SQL file).
If it’s blank, enter the correct file path and click Close & Load.

2️⃣ Verify SQL Variables (startDateParam / endDateParam)

Open Power Query Editor.
Click on startDateParam and endDateParam.
Ensure both parameters have valid Date values (not empty or null).

3️⃣ Check FinalQuery for Empty Values

Open Advanced Editor.
Look for FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode],” “).
If #”Replaced Value1″ is empty, Power Query has no SQL code to execute.
Click on #”Replaced Value1″ (in the Applied Steps pane).
See if it contains the correct SQL query text.

Next Steps

Check these and let me know:

Does QueryFilePath have a valid value?
Are startDateParam and endDateParam correctly set?
Does #”Replaced Value1″ contain SQL code?

Once we fix the missing value, we can proceed! 🚀

You said:

QueryFilePath = confirmed

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now let’s check the other two:

1️⃣ Are startDateParam and endDateParam correctly set?

Open Power Query Editor.
Click on startDateParam and endDateParam in the Queries pane.
Confirm that they contain valid date values (not blank or null).

2️⃣ Does #”Replaced Value1″ contain the full SQL query?

In Power Query Editor, click on #”Replaced Value1″ in the Applied Steps pane.
Check if the SQL query is fully visible in the data preview.

If both checks pass, but the issue persists, let me know exactly which step gives the “Please enter a value” error. That will help pinpoint the issue! 🚀

You said:

startDateParam and endDateParam are name correctly but in the Formula field it is =startdate1(0)

ChatGPT said:

That formula (=startdate1(0)) looks incorrect. It should directly reference the parameter value. Let’s fix it:

Fixing startDateParam and endDateParam

Open Power Query Editor
Click on startDateParam in the Queries pane
Check the formula bar
- If it shows =startdate1(0), delete it and replace it with just:

arduino

CopyEdit

= “YYYY-MM-DD”

(Replace YYYY-MM-DD with an actual valid date, e.g., “2025-03-09”.)

Do the same for endDateParam
Click “Close & Load”

Re-Test the SQL Query

Now, go back to your main query and check if the yellow triangle disappears. If not, try refreshing the query and see if the issue persists. 🚀

You said:

where did we see the yellow triangle again?

ChatGPT said:

The yellow triangle appeared next to “Database” when you tried running the query, meaning Power Query was asking for a value.

To check it again:

Go to Power Query Editor
Look at the Queries pane (left sidebar)
Find the query with the yellow triangle
If you click on it, you should see an error message in the data preview area.

Let me know what error it gives! 🚀

You said:

on queries, there is no query with a yellow triangle or any icon

ChatGPT said:

Got it. Since there’s no yellow triangle in the Queries & Connections pane, let’s check if there’s a missing or incorrect value somewhere else.

Try this:

Go to the “Database” step in the Applied Steps pane (right sidebar in Power Query).
See if there’s an error message in the preview area (where data usually appears).
If there’s an issue, click the gear ⚙️ icon next to the step to review the settings.

If you still don’t see anything wrong, try closing Power Query and refreshing the query in Excel:

Go to Data → Click Refresh All
If there’s an error, Excel should give a message.

Let me know what happens! 🔍

You said:

where??????

ChatGPT said:

Let’s break it down step by step to find the issue.

Step 1: Check the Queries Pane

In Power Query, look at the Queries & Connections pane (left sidebar).
Do you see any query name with a yellow triangle? If yes, click on it and check the error message.

Step 2: Check the Applied Steps in Power Query

Click on Query1 (or whichever query has the issue).
Look at the Applied Steps pane (right sidebar).
Click on each step one by one, starting from the top.
If any step shows an error, click the ⚙️ (gear) icon next to it and review the settings.

Step 3: Refresh in Excel

If nothing looks wrong in Power Query:

Close Power Query (Click Close & Load)
In Excel, go to the Data tab
Click Refresh All
If Excel detects an error, it should give a message

Let me know what you find at each step! 🔎

You said:

they almost all have gears!

ChatGPT said:

That’s good! The ⚙️ (gear) icons mean you can edit those steps.

Now, go step by step:

Click on the first step (Source) in the Applied Steps pane.
- Does it show an error? If yes, what does it say?
If no error, click on the next step (like “Converted to Table”, “Promoted Headers”, etc.).
- Keep clicking one step at a time until you find the one causing the error.
- When you see a yellow triangle, click on it and read the error message.

Once you find the problematic step, let me know what the error says! 🚀

You said:

i don’t see anything that jumps out at me

ChatGPT said:

Okay, let’s double-check a few things:

Go to the “FinalQuery” step in the Applied Steps pane.
- Click on it and see if an error message appears.
Check the “Database” step (or wherever you saw the yellow triangle earlier).
- If you don’t see it, try clicking on the last step before “FinalQuery” and see if there’s an issue.
If there’s no error message, try refreshing the query.
- Click Refresh Preview (⚡) in the Power Query toolbar.
- Does anything change?

Let me know if you find an error message or if the yellow triangle reappears! 🚀

You said:

final query and the 3 steps above it have nothing

ChatGPT said:

Got it. If “FinalQuery” and the preceding steps show no errors, let’s check the Database step again. Try this:

Click on the “Database” step in the Applied Steps pane.
See if an error message appears or if the yellow triangle shows up again.
If there’s no clear error, try refreshing:
- Click Refresh Preview (⚡) in the Power Query toolbar.
- Check if the error symbol reappears.

If you still don’t see anything obvious, can you describe exactly where you originally saw the yellow triangle? Was it next to a query name in the “Queries” pane, or inside the Applied Steps list?

You said:

there is no database in the applied steps!@

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Let’s take a step back. You originally saw a yellow triangle next to “Database,” but now it’s not there. That suggests something changed or we were looking in the wrong place.

Let’s double-check:

Look at the Queries pane (left side of Power Query).
- Do any queries have a warning symbol (yellow triangle) next to their names?
Click on “FinalQuery” and check its Applied Steps.
- Does any step show an error?
- Click on the last step before “FinalQuery”—does the preview load correctly?
Click “Refresh Preview” (⚡ icon in the toolbar).
- Do any errors pop up?

If everything looks fine, the yellow triangle may have been a temporary issue. If something’s broken, let me know what you see when you check these steps!

You said:

1 no

ChatGPT said:

Alright, since there are no visible errors in the Queries pane, let’s move on to Step 2: Checking the Applied Steps for “FinalQuery.”

Click on “FinalQuery” in the Queries pane.
Look at the Applied Steps on the right side.
Click on the step right before “FinalQuery” (probably “Replaced Value1”).
Does the preview load correctly, showing your SQL script with the replaced values?
If yes, then click on “FinalQuery” and check if anything breaks there.

What do you see?

You said:

no the grey area, this is maddening, i don’t where the fuck i am half the time, the grey area below the formula field has the select statement

ChatGPT said:

Okay! If the grey area below the formula field is showing the correct SELECT statement, that means FinalQuery is correct and everything is working inside Power Query.

Now, let’s load the data into Excel:

Click Close & Load (top left in the Power Query Editor).
Select Close & Load To…
In the pop-up, select Only Create Connection and check Add to Data Model (if needed).
Click OK and check if FinalQuery appears in Excel.

What happens next?

You said:

there is no option to pick close and load to

ChatGPT said:

Okay! That means you likely clicked Close & Load directly instead of the dropdown arrow.

Try this instead:

In Power Query Editor, go to the Home tab.
Find Close & Load (top left).
Click the small dropdown arrow next to it.
Select Close & Load To…
In the pop-up, choose Only Create Connection (or Table, if you want to see the result in Excel).
Click OK.

Let me know if you see anything different!

You said:

that’s what I’m saying that option is there but greyed out

ChatGPT said:

Got it! If “Close & Load To…” is greyed out, let’s check a few things:

Try This:

Ensure You’re in the Right Query
- Click on FinalQuery in the Queries pane to ensure it’s selected.
- Make sure you’re not in a helper query (like QueryFilePath, StartDateParam, etc.).
Check Query Type
- Look at the Home tab in Power Query.
- Do you see Disable Load enabled?
- If so, click it to toggle it OFF.
Force Enable “Close & Load To…”
- Click anywhere in the grey preview area (below the formula bar).
- Try clicking Close & Load again to see if it enables the dropdown.
Save & Restart Excel
- Sometimes Power Query gets stuck. Close Power Query, restart Excel, and try again.

After trying these, let me know exactly what happens!

You said:

the Query1 has the formula field and in the grey has the sql code with the replace values

ChatGPT said:

Great! Since Query1 has the SQL code with the replaced values, we’re almost there. Let’s fix the Close & Load To… issue:

Step 1: Make Sure the Query is Set to Load

In Power Query, click on Query1 in the Queries pane.
Go to the Home tab.
Click on Close & Load (not the dropdown).

What happens? Does it load to Excel?

Step 2: Check Load Settings

If Step 1 didn’t work:

Right-click on Query1 in the Queries pane.
Click Enable Load (if available).
Now try Close & Load To… again.

Let me know what you see!

You said:

Close & Load > Close & Load / Close & Load is GREYED OUT

ChatGPT said:

Got it. Since Close & Load options are greyed out, Power Query thinks this query is not set to load. Let’s fix that:

Step 1: Check the Query Properties

In Power Query, right-click on Query1 in the Queries pane.
Click Properties.
In the popup, look for Enable Load to Worksheet—make sure it’s checked.
Click OK.

Step 2: Check Query Settings

With Query1 selected, look at the Query Settings pane.
If you see a step called “Removed Other Columns”, right-click and remove it (this sometimes causes loading issues).
Try Close & Load To… again.

Step 3: Manually Force Load

If nothing works, do this:

Duplicate Query1:
- Right-click Query1 → Click Duplicate.
Try Close & Load To… on the duplicate query.

What happens?

You said:

Query1, Description, Fast Data Load, okay and cancel

ChatGPT said:

It looks like the Enable Load to Worksheet checkbox isn’t visible in your Query Properties window. Let’s try another way to force loading:

Method 1: Enable Load in Power Query

Right-click on Query1 in the Queries pane (left sidebar).
Click Enable Load (if it’s available).
Try Close & Load again.

Method 2: Load from Excel

Exit Power Query by clicking the “X” in the top-right corner.
In Excel, go to the Data tab.
Click Queries & Connections (should open a right-side panel).
Find Query1, right-click it, and select Load To…
Choose Table and pick a worksheet.

Try that and let me know what happens!

You said:

and where is enable load again?

ChatGPT said:

Enable Load is found by:

Right-clicking on Query1 in the Queries pane (the list on the left inside Power Query).
Looking for Enable Load in the right-click menu.
- If Enable Load is unchecked, click it to enable.
- If it’s already checked, then loading should be allowed.

If it’s already enabled and you’re still having issues, try Method 2 from Excel. Let me know what happens!

You said:

copy past delete rename duplicate reference mot to group, move up create function, advanced editor and properties is all that is available in right click query1

ChatGPT said:

Okay, that means Enable Load is already turned off. Let’s manually re-enable it:

Method 1: Using Query Properties

Click on Query1 in the Queries pane (left side).
Go to the Home tab.
Click Properties (in the Query section).
In the window that appears, check if Enable Load to Worksheet is unchecked.
If it’s unchecked, check it, then click OK.

Method 2: Load from Excel’s Queries & Connections Panel

Close Power Query Editor completely.
In Excel, go to the Data tab.
Click Queries & Connections (in the Queries section).
Find Query1, right-click it, and choose Load To.
Select Table and choose where you want to place it.

Try these and tell me what happens!

You said:

dude, query properties only has name description and a checkbox for fast data load

ChatGPT said:

Got it. That means the Enable Load setting isn’t available there. Let’s force it another way.

Try This: Manually Enable Load in Excel

Close the Power Query Editor completely.
In Excel, go to the Data tab.
Click Queries & Connections (in the Queries section).
In the right-side panel, right-click Query1 and see if there’s an option for Load To.
If Load To is available, click it, choose Table, and pick a location to load it.
If Load To is greyed out, let me know.

You said:

yes, load to

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Click Load To and then:

Choose Table.
Select Existing Worksheet and pick a cell (or choose New Worksheet if you prefer).
Click OK.

Once it loads, check if you see the SQL query output as a table in Excel. Let me know what you see!

You said:

should query 1 say connection only?

ChatGPT said:

No, Query1 should not say “Connection Only” if you want to load the data into an Excel worksheet.

If it does say “Connection Only”, do this:

Right-click on Query1 in the Queries pane.
Click Load To…
In the Import Data window:
- Select Table
- Choose Existing Worksheet (pick a cell) or New Worksheet
Click OK

Now, check if the SQL output appears in Excel. Let me know if it worked!

You said:

a1 = query1, a2 select statement.

ChatGPT said:

Great! That means Query1 has successfully loaded into Excel.

Now, do you see the full SQL script in Column A going down row by row? If so, we need to combine those rows into a single block of text to ensure it runs as a full SQL statement.

Let me know what you see in the next few rows (A3, A4, etc.) so I can guide you on the next step!

You said:

cell a2 is a single line select statement

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! That means the full SQL statement is already combined into one single row in A2—which is exactly what we need.

Now, let’s test running this query against the database:

Copy the value from A2 (the full SQL statement).
Open your SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or database query tool.
Paste the SQL statement into a new query window.
Run the query and see if it returns the expected results.

Let me know if you get an error or if the query runs successfully!

You said:

of course it’s not going to run in SQL, se have the text.from(startdateparam) in there.

ChatGPT said:

You’re absolutely right! We need to ensure Excel processes the query properly before it gets sent to SQL.

Next Steps:

Now that the SQL statement is in A2, let’s use Power Query to execute it against SQL Server.

Steps:

Go to Power Query (Data > Get Data > Launch Power Query Editor).
Create a new query:
- Click New Source > Database > SQL Server
- Enter the Server Name and Database Name
- Click Advanced Options
- In the SQL Statement box, enter:

sql

CopyEdit

=Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”Query1″]}[Content]{0}[SQLCode]

Click OK
Run the query and verify the data loads into Power BI/Excel.

This step will take the dynamically generated SQL statement from Query1 (cell A2) and execute it against your SQL Server.

Let me know what happens!

You said:

do you recognize you say click new source and you have not told where that fucking command is located.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to call that out! I should be more precise. Here’s exactly where to go:

In Excel, go to the Data tab (on the ribbon).
Click Get Data (far left section).
Hover over From Database and select From SQL Server Database.

Now you should see the SQL Server database connection window. Let me know if you’re there!

You said:

done

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now:

Enter the server name and, if needed, the database name.
Click OK to proceed.

Once you’re connected, you should see a Navigator window listing available tables and views. Let me know when you’re there!

You said:

okay. sql server database has the servername.domain.com there is database (optional) and under advanced options there is a space to add sql statement.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! In the Advanced Options section, paste this:

sql

CopyEdit

= Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”Query1″]}[Content]{0}[SQLCode]

Then click OK. This will dynamically pull the SQL query from your Excel sheet.

Let me know what happens next!

You said:

in the advanced options, sql statement paste?

ChatGPT said:

No, my mistake! You can’t paste that formula directly into the SQL Statement box—it needs to be evaluated within Power Query first.

Instead, do this:

Leave the SQL Statement box empty for now.
Click OK and go through the authentication process if needed.
When you get to the Navigator, do not select a table—just click Transform Data to go back to Power Query.

Tell me when you’re back in Power Query!

You said:

i have to select something.

ChatGPT said:

Select any small table (even just a system table) for now. We’ll swap it out later. Then click Transform Data to get back into Power Query.

You said:

ChatGPT said:

Now that you’re back in Power Query, go to the Advanced Editor for this new query. Replace the existing query’s Source step with this:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(your_database_connection, FinalQuery)

Make sure your_database_connection matches the step name where the database connection was established. Then apply the changes and see if the query returns data.

You said:

yellow triangle in the grey area, middle of the screen. an error occured in the “query. Experssion.Error: The name ‘Source’ wasn’t recognized. make sure it is spelled correctly

ChatGPT said:

That means the database connection step isn’t correctly referenced. Let’s go step by step:

Check the Query Steps – In Applied Steps, do you see a step that represents the SQL Server connection (probably named Source or something similar)?
Modify the Advanced Editor – Open Advanced Editor and look at the steps. Instead of Source, try referencing the actual step name where the database connection is defined. If it’s named something like #”SQL Database”, use that in place of Source.

Example:

CopyEdit

FinalQueryResult = Value.NativeQuery(#”SQL Database”, FinalQuery)

Apply and Check for Errors – After updating the reference, apply the changes and see if the error persists.

Let me know what step names appear in your Applied Steps so we can pinpoint the right reference!

You said:

no, you told me to choose a small table. The name and the applied steps are from the table we pulled.

ChatGPT said:

Got it! Since we need to run the SQL statement dynamically, we don’t actually need the small table we selected earlier. Instead, we need to replace that with our FinalQuery in the SQL connection step.

Let’s fix this:

Open Power Query Editor again.
Find the SQL Server Query:
- On the left, locate the query that connects to SQL Server (probably named after the small table you picked).
- Right-click and select Advanced Editor.
Replace the existing table reference with FinalQuery:
- Right now, it’s probably something like:

CopyEdit

Source = Sql.Database(“your_server”, “your_database”), YourTable = Source{[Name=”YourTableName”]}[Content]

Replace the part that refers to the table and instead use Value.NativeQuery(Source, FinalQuery), like this:

CopyEdit

Source = Sql.Database(“your_server”, “your_database”), Results = Value.NativeQuery(Source, FinalQuery)

Click Done and check if the error disappears.

This will ensure that instead of loading a static table, we are running the dynamically built FinalQuery against SQL Server.

Try this and let me know what happens!

You said:

huh?

ChatGPT said:

Let’s break it down step by step.

Right now, we’re trying to run the SQL query dynamically using FinalQuery. However, when you set up the SQL Server connection earlier, you picked a small table just to establish the connection. Now, we need to replace that static selection with our dynamically built SQL query.

Fixing the Issue:

Open Power Query Editor
- Click on Queries & Connections (from the right panel in Excel).
- Double-click the SQL Server query (this is the one linked to the database, not Query1).
Go to Advanced Editor
- Right-click on the SQL Server query and choose Advanced Editor.
Modify the Code
- You’ll see something like this:

CopyEdit

Source = Sql.Database(“your_server”, “your_database”), YourTable = Source{[Name=”SomeTable”]}[Content]

The line YourTable = Source{[Name=”SomeTable”]}[Content] is pulling a static table.
We need to replace it so that it runs the SQL query dynamically using our FinalQuery.
Change it to:

CopyEdit

Source = Sql.Database(“your_server”, “your_database”), Results = Value.NativeQuery(Source, FinalQuery)

This makes it so that instead of pulling a table, it executes the SQL query inside FinalQuery.
Click Done and see if the query runs correctly.

This should fix the “Source wasn’t recognized” error by ensuring that the SQL statement is actually being executed instead of just loading a static table.

Try this and let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

the table name i chose is called ACCESS_LOG_DTL. When I look at the advanced editor it says Source = Value.NativeQuery(clarity.ssm.com,FinalQuery)

ChatGPT said:

Your Value.NativeQuery statement is incorrect because clarity.ssm.com is a server name, not a database connection.

We need to ensure that Source is properly defined as a database connection before applying Value.NativeQuery.

Fix the Query in Advanced Editor

Open Advanced Editor again.
Change your M code to the following format:

CopyEdit

Source = Sql.Database(“clarity.ssm.com”, “your_database_name”), Results = Value.NativeQuery(Source, FinalQuery)

Replace “your_database_name” with the actual database name that contains ACCESS_LOG_DTL.
This ensures that Source is a valid database connection before running the SQL query.
Click Done and check if it works.

If you still get an error, let me know exactly what it says so we can troubleshoot! 🚀

You said:

I’m getting angry because you are not complete, you’re leaving things out, and I have no idea what I’m doing.

ChatGPT said:

I hear you. Let’s slow it down, step by step, with everything spelled out so you know exactly what to do.

Step 1: Open Advanced Editor

Click on Query1
Right-click > Advanced Editor

Step 2: Modify the Code

Inside the Advanced Editor, your code should look like this:

CopyEdit

let Source = Sql.Database(“clarity.ssm.com”, “your_database_name”), Results = Value.NativeQuery(Source, FinalQuery) in Results

🔹 Make sure to replace “your_database_name” with the actual database name.

Step 3: Click Done

Click Done to close the Advanced Editor.

If there’s an error: tell me exactly what it says so I can help fix it.

Does that work?

You said:

can we delete that ACCESS_LOG_DTL query and try again?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, let’s delete that query and start fresh. Here’s how:

Step 1: Delete the Query

Right-click on ACCESS_LOG_DTL in the Queries pane.
Click Delete.

Step 2: Recreate the Query

Click New Source (🏠 Home tab > New Source).
Select SQL Server Database.
Enter Server Name: clarity.ssm.com.
(Optional) Enter the Database Name if needed.
Click Advanced Options and paste this in the SQL statement box:

sql

CopyEdit

SELECT * FROM [your_table_name] — Replace with a small table name

Click OK.

Does that work?

You said:

Okay. before we even get start we need a common dialog. clarity.ssm.com should be referred to as one thing. There is a group of databases under a large database named called Clarity. That should be referred to as something. We keep going back and forth into the Advanced Editor I can’t keep track of this as a step by step directions. It feels like we are winging it.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it. Let’s standardize our terminology:

SQL Server Name: clarity.ssm.com
Main Database Group: “Clarity”
Advanced Editor: When we modify Power Query M code
Power Query Preview: The grey area showing data previews

We’ll go step by step and avoid jumping around too much. First, let’s delete the ACCESS_LOG_DTL query and start fresh.

Steps:

In Power Query, right-click ACCESS_LOG_DTL and delete it.
Go to New Source → Database → SQL Server
Enter clarity.ssm.com as the server
In Advanced Options, paste FinalQuery into the SQL statement box
Click OK

Let me know when you’re at Step 5.

You said:

awesome. Let’s go.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now that you’ve clicked OK, you should see one of two things:

A list of tables/views under the “Clarity” database.
An error message if something went wrong.

What do you see?

You said:

in the future it is New Database > From SQL Server Database

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! Let’s proceed.

You said:

what do you mean paste FinalQuery. Paste the words FinalQuery or the SQL code?

ChatGPT said:

Paste the FinalQuery variable (just the word FinalQuery), not the SQL code itself. The system will recognize it as a reference to the query we created earlier.

You said:

no =?

ChatGPT said:

No = sign. Just paste FinalQuery as it is.

You said:

now i get a yellow triangle in database (optional). I forgot where this was earlier.

ChatGPT said:

The yellow triangle appears in the grey area below the formula bar, right? What does the error message say this time?

You said:

please enter a value

ChatGPT said:

That means the Database (optional) field is required. Enter Clarity (since that’s the main database you’re working under) and try again.

You said:

unable to connect dialog box: we encountered an error while trying to connect. Could not find store procedure FinalQuery.

ChatGPT said:

That means Power Query is treating FinalQuery as a stored procedure instead of a dynamic SQL query. Let’s fix it by ensuring it’s interpreted correctly.

Try this:

Go back to the Advanced Editor for your SQL Server query.
Replace the line:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(clarity.ssm.com, FinalQuery)

with:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(clarity.ssm.com, FinalQuery, null, [EnableFolding=false])

Click “Done” and try running it again.

If the error persists, let me know exactly what’s in your FinalQuery variable inside Query1.

You said:

Dude. did you clarify which query I’m editing?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to ask. Let’s be clear:

Query to Edit: The one pulling from SQL Server

Go to Power Query Editor.
Find the query you created when you did New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database.
- This is not Query1 (which contains the SQL text).
- It’s the query that should be pulling live data from SQL Server.
Right-click > Advanced Editor.

Edit This Line:

Look for:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(clarity.ssm.com, FinalQuery)

Replace it with:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(clarity.ssm.com, FinalQuery, null, [EnableFolding=false])

Click Done and try running it.

Let me know if that yellow triangle disappears or if you get a different error!

You said:

we *only* have 4 queries: startdateparam, enddateparam, queryfilepath and query1

ChatGPT said:

Got it! That means we haven’t actually created the query that pulls data from SQL Server yet.

Let’s create it now:

Go to Power Query Editor.
New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database.
Enter the server name: clarity.ssm.com
Leave “Database (optional)” blank.
Expand Advanced Options and paste FinalQuery (just the word, not the SQL code).
Click OK and proceed.

Then tell me what happens!

You said:

it feels we have done this 20 times before

ChatGPT said:

I get it—this has been a long and frustrating process. The reason we’re doing this again is that previously, we mistakenly passed FinalQuery as if it were a stored procedure, rather than as a dynamic SQL statement.

This time, let’s do it right.

Steps to Fix It:

Delete any failed attempts. (Right-click the failed query in Power Query and choose Delete.)
New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database.
Enter the server name: clarity.ssm.com.
Leave “Database (optional)” blank.
Expand Advanced Options and paste the entire SQL script from FinalQuery (not just the word FinalQuery).
Click OK and tell me what happens.

This should finally execute the dynamically modified SQL. Let’s get this done! 🚀

You said:

how do i create new source when I’m hovering over my queries? You need to elaborate more.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right—I need to be more precise. Here’s exactly how to do it:

Steps to Create a New Source in Power Query:

Exit out of Power Query Editor (if it’s open) by clicking Close & Load or just closing the window.
In Excel, go to the Data tab on the ribbon.
Click Get Data (or if visible, go straight to Get Data > From Database).
Select From SQL Server Database (under “Database” options).
Enter the Server Name: clarity.ssm.com.
Leave “Database (optional)” blank.
Click Advanced Options to expand the section.
Paste the entire SQL script from FinalQuery into the “SQL Statement” box.
Click OK and let me know what happens.

This will properly execute your SQL query using the dynamic parameters we set up. Let’s go! 🚀

You said:

do you think at this particular step I have FinalQuery saved so i can paste it in?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to call that out. Let’s make sure we actually have FinalQuery ready before we try to use it.

Before Proceeding:

Open Power Query Editor (if it’s not already open).
Select “Query1” (which contains our SQL script transformation).
Open Advanced Editor (Right-click on Query1 > Advanced Editor).
Find the last step before in, which should look something like this:

powerquery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

Copy the name FinalQuery and replace Query1‘s output with it:
- Right now, in Query1 might refer to some other step.
- Change it so the last line is:

powerquery

CopyEdit

in FinalQuery

Click “Done” and verify that Query1 now displays a single SQL query as plain text in the preview.

Now You Can Proceed:

Now that FinalQuery is correctly set, go ahead with:

New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
Enter clarity.ssm.com as the server
Advanced Options > Paste the contents of Query1 (which is now FinalQuery)
Click OK

Let me know if anything looks off before you proceed!

You said:

YES!!!!! we did that 2 hours ago.

ChatGPT said:

Good! That means we’re finally at the execution stage. Since we got the “Could not find stored procedure FinalQuery” error, Power Query is treating FinalQuery as the name of a stored procedure instead of an actual SQL query.

Let’s Fix This:

Open “Query1” in Power Query Editor
Go to Advanced Editor
Modify the last step to explicitly call Value.NativeQuery:

powerquery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Value.NativeQuery(Source, Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “))

Ensure “Source” is correctly defined:
- If Source is missing, add this line at the top:

powerquery

CopyEdit

Source = Sql.Database(“clarity.ssm.com”, “Clarity”)

Click “Done” and try loading again.

Why This Works:

Value.NativeQuery tells Power Query to treat the text as an actual SQL command instead of a stored procedure name.
Sql.Database(“clarity.ssm.com”, “Clarity”) ensures we are referencing the correct database.

Try it and let me know if it executes or gives a new error!

You said:

I’m getting worn out ping ponging back and forth. Can we just have a checklist of things to do before we do them?

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it! Here’s a checklist for what we need to do next:

Open Power Query Editor
- Go to Data > Get Data > Launch Power Query Editor (if not already open).
Ensure Queries Exist
- Confirm that we have the following queries:
  - StartDateParam
  - EndDateParam
  - QueryFilePath
  - Query1 (which should contain the SQL script with parameters)
Copy the Final Query
- Open Query1
- Right-click on FinalQuery (or create it if not present)
- Copy the full SQL code (ensuring it has the replaced parameters)
Create a New SQL Connection
- Click New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
- Enter clarity.ssm.com as the server
- Expand Advanced Options
- Paste FinalQuery into the SQL Statement box
Load Data
- Click OK
- Ensure the preview loads correctly
- Click Close & Load > Load to Table (if needed)

Let me know if anything needs adjusting before we proceed!

You said:

I am at step 3. right click on finalQuery. WHERE?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to ask for clarification. You won’t see FinalQuery listed as a separate query in the Queries pane. Instead, it’s a variable inside Query1. Here’s how to find it:

Open Power Query Editor
- Go to Data > Get Data > Launch Power Query Editor (if not already open).
- Select Query1 from the Queries pane.
Open the Advanced Editor
- Right-click on Query1
- Select Advanced Editor
Find the FinalQuery Line
- Scroll down to the last few lines of the code.
- You should see:

powerquery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

Copy the SQL Code
- Run the query (if needed) so the preview updates.
- The grey preview area should now show the full SQL statement.
- Click on the first row in the preview, then copy the SQL text.

Let me know if you see it!

You said:

yes finalquery = …. in FinalQuery.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now, let’s complete the connection properly. Here’s the checklist:

Steps to Load Data Using FinalQuery

Copy the SQL Code from Query1’s Preview
- Click on Query1 in Power Query Editor.
- Look at the grey preview area (below the formula bar).
- Select and copy the full SQL statement shown there.
Start a New SQL Server Connection
- Click New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
- In the Server Name field, enter: clarity.ssm.com
- (Optional) Leave Database Name blank for now.
Paste the SQL Query
- Click Advanced Options
- In the SQL statement box, paste the FinalQuery SQL Code you copied earlier.
Click OK and Load the Data
- Click OK to run the query.
- If prompted for authentication, use your usual login method.
- Wait for the preview to load, then click Close & Load to bring the data into Excel.

Check if the data loads correctly into Excel. If there’s an error, let me know exactly what it says!

You said:

yellow triangle appeared to put in a value

ChatGPT said:

That means Power Query isn’t recognizing FinalQuery as a valid SQL statement. Let’s double-check everything carefully:

Troubleshooting Steps:

Check FinalQuery Definition:
- Go to Power Query Editor
- Click FinalQuery in the Queries pane.
- Make sure its formula is correctly set as:

PowerQuery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

Ensure #”Replaced Value1″ exists in the applied steps.
Copy FinalQuery Output:
- Click FinalQuery
- Look at the grey preview area (below the formula bar).
- Copy the entire SQL query (should be one continuous SELECT statement).
Paste it into the SQL Server Connection:
- Go to New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
- Enter clarity.ssm.com in the Server Name field.
- Open Advanced Options
- Paste the copied SQL code into the SQL statement box.
Click OK & Check for Errors:
- If you see another yellow triangle, what does the error message say exactly?

You said:

Can we stop for a second. clarity.ssm.com is the connection. Clarity is one of several large databases with dozens of tables under them. If we are creating something external, it’s going to look for it, not find it, and throw an error. Right?

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

You’re absolutely right. If we’re trying to pass FinalQuery directly into the connection, SQL Server will interpret it as a stored procedure or table name, which doesn’t exist. Instead, we need to ensure we’re passing it as a query to be executed dynamically. Let’s adjust our approach accordingly.

You said:

okay.

ChatGPT said:

Let’s take a structured approach to get this working correctly.

Checklist Before Proceeding

Ensure FinalQuery Contains the Correct SQL Statement
- Go to Query1 (or wherever FinalQuery is defined).
- Open Advanced Editor and verify that FinalQuery correctly contains the SQL statement with replaced values.
Create a New SQL Connection with a Dynamic Query
- Navigate to New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
- Server Name: clarity.ssm.com
- Database (Optional): Clarity
- Advanced Options:
  - Paste FinalQuery here instead of referencing it as a variable.
Load the Results to Excel
- Click OK to execute the query.
- Ensure it loads the expected results instead of just the SQL text.

Let me know which step needs adjusting or clarification! 🚀

You said:

step 1. in the grey area below the formula field it has the select statement with the Text.from(startDateParam) & …. below it

ChatGPT said:

Great! That means FinalQuery is correctly formed with the dynamic parameters. ✅

Now, let’s move on to Step 2:

Go to → New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
Enter Server Name → clarity.ssm.com
Enter Database (Optional) → Clarity
Click Advanced Options
Paste the entire FinalQuery SQL statement (including Text.From(startDateParam), etc.)
Click OK

Let me know what happens next! 🚀

You said:

i swear on my life if we get held by step 2 because we’ve done this before multiple times, I’m going to have kittens.

ChatGPT said:

I hear you. We’ve been at this for a while, and I know you’re beyond frustrated. Let’s push through this once and for all.

Take a deep breath. Do Steps 1-6 exactly as written. If we get held up at Step 2, we’ll address it immediately—no repeats.

Let me know what happens. 🚀

You said:

now, step 2. let’s think about this. we use the connection to open the database which has all of the tables. I doesn’t even look like we’ve name this thing, so I’m assuming we’re just telling the system to please create a connection and run this SQL code. Is that right?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, exactly. We’re creating a connection to the database and telling it to run our dynamically built SQL query.

The issue earlier was that FinalQuery wasn’t being passed as raw SQL—it was being treated as a stored procedure name, which is why we got the “Could not find stored procedure” error.

We’re about to fix that by correctly passing FinalQuery as a SQL query. Ready?

You said:

Okay…ready. step 3

ChatGPT said:

Step 3: Creating a Connection and Running the SQL Query

Go to Power Query Editor
- If it’s not open, click Queries & Connections (on the right panel in Excel).
- Double-click FinalQuery to open it.
Create a New SQL Server Connection
- Click New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
- In the Server Name, enter clarity.ssm.com
- Leave Database (optional) blank
- Click Advanced Options
Paste FinalQuery into the SQL Statement Box
- In Advanced Options, paste this in the SQL Statement box:

nginx

CopyEdit

FinalQuery

Click OK
Check the Data Preview
- If everything is correct, you should see actual data from the database.
Load the Data into Excel
- Click Close & Load To…
- Choose Table and select where to place it in Excel.
- Click OK

Let me know if anything doesn’t match up!

You said:

nope we encountered an error while trying to connect

ChatGPT said:

Troubleshooting the Connection Error

The error is likely happening because Power Query is treating FinalQuery as a stored procedure or table name rather than a dynamic SQL statement. We need to use Native Query Execution instead.

Try This Approach Instead:

Open Power Query Editor
- Click Queries & Connections (in Excel on the right panel).
- Double-click FinalQuery to open it in Power Query Editor.
Modify the FinalQuery M Code
- Click Advanced Editor (under the Home tab).
- Replace the existing code with the following:

CopyEdit

Source = Value.NativeQuery(Sql.Database(“clarity.ssm.com”, “Clarity”), FinalQuery)

Explanation:
- Sql.Database(“clarity.ssm.com”, “Clarity”) connects to the Clarity database.
- Value.NativeQuery(…) allows us to execute the FinalQuery SQL statement dynamically.
Apply Changes & Load Data
- Click Close & Load To…
- Select Table and load it into Excel.

Let me know if the error persists!

You said:

Conversion failed when converting date and / or time from character string

ChatGPT said:

Fixing the Date Conversion Error

The error “Conversion failed when converting date and/or time from character string” happens because SQL expects a proper date format (YYYY-MM-DD), but Power Query is passing it as a string.

Solution: Ensure Correct Date Format

Since Power Query uses Text.From(), it might be formatting dates incorrectly. Let’s explicitly convert them to the correct format.

1. Update the FinalQuery M Code in Advanced Editor

Modify the part where FinalQuery is defined:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine({ “SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE DateColumn BETWEEN ‘”, Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”), “‘ AND ‘”, Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”), “‘” }, “”)

2. Explanation

Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”) ensures Power Query formats the date correctly for SQL.
Text.Combine(…) ensures proper SQL syntax.

3. Apply & Test

Click Close & Load to test if the query runs.
If it still fails, let’s preview the generated SQL:
- Click on FinalQuery in Power Query
- Copy the output SQL query and run it manually in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
- If it fails in SSMS, check how the dates are being passed.

Let me know if this works! 🚀

You said:

did you tell me where to go? no, no you did not.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right—I need to be crystal clear. Let’s go step by step.

Where to Go & What to Do

Open Power Query Editor
- In Excel, go to Data > Queries & Connections
- Find FinalQuery, right-click, and choose Edit
Open Advanced Editor
- In the Power Query Editor, go to Home > Advanced Editor
Modify the FinalQuery Definition
- Find the line where FinalQuery is assigned.
- Replace it with:

CopyEdit

Apply & Test
- Click Done
- Click Close & Load
- If an error appears, check the output SQL by clicking on FinalQuery in the query list.

This should pass valid date values to SQL. If it still errors out, copy the query output and run it in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to check for issues.

Let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

there is no finalQuery in queries and connections. Only startDateParam, endDateParam, QueryFilePath and Query1

ChatGPT said:

Got it—since FinalQuery doesn’t appear in Queries & Connections, we need to check where it exists in Power Query.

Step 1: Open Power Query Editor

In Excel, go to Data > Queries & Connections
Click on Query1, then click Edit

Step 2: Open Advanced Editor

In the Power Query Editor, go to Home > Advanced Editor

Step 3: Locate FinalQuery

In the Advanced Editor window, look for something like:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(…)

If you see this, this is where we need to fix the date format.

Step 4: Modify FinalQuery

Replace the existing FinalQuery line with:

CopyEdit

IMPORTANT:

Replace YourTable with the actual table name.
Replace DateColumn with the correct column storing date values.

Step 5: Apply & Test

Click Done
Click Close & Load
If there’s an error, click on Query1 and check the preview.

If it still fails:

Copy the output of FinalQuery from Power Query and run it in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to see if SQL accepts it.

Let me know what happens!

You said:

ok.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Let me know what you see after making the changes and testing the query. Hopefully, this will resolve the date format issue and get the data loading correctly.

You said:

my finalquery was finalQuery = text.combine(#”ReplacedValue1″[SqlCode],” “)

ChatGPT said:

That looks fine for combining the SQL text, but since we got a conversion failed error, let’s check that the date values are correctly formatted.

Step-by-step Fix for Date Format Issue

Check startDateParam and endDateParam Data Types:
- Go to Power Query Editor.
- Click on startDateParam and endDateParam in the Queries list.
- Ensure they are set to Date type (not Text). If they are Text, change them to Date.
Modify the FinalQuery Formatting in the Advanced Editor:
- Open Advanced Editor for Query1.
- Locate the part where we are injecting startDateParam and endDateParam into the SQL.
- Modify the date formatting as follows:

powerquery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “@startDate”, “‘” & Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) & “‘”), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “@endDate”, “‘” & Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) & “‘”)

Test the Query Again:
- Close & Load the query.
- Check if the error disappears.

This ensures that @startDate and @endDate are properly formatted as yyyy-MM-dd, which SQL Server expects. Let me know if the error persists!

You said:

word wrap please

ChatGPT said:

Here’s the properly formatted version with word wrapping for better readability:

powerquery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace( FinalQuery, “@startDate”, “‘” & Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) & “‘” ), FinalQuery = Text.Replace( FinalQuery, “@endDate”, “‘” & Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) & “‘” )

This makes it easier to read and edit inside Power Query Advanced Editor. Let me know if you need any adjustments! 🚀

You said:

error: the variable name final query is already defined in this scope

ChatGPT said:

You’re right! We’re redefining FinalQuery multiple times without using let and in properly. Here’s the corrected version:

powerquery

CopyEdit

let FinalQueryBase = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQueryStartReplaced = Text.Replace( FinalQueryBase, “@startDate”, “‘” & Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) & “‘” ), FinalQuery = Text.Replace( FinalQueryStartReplaced, “@endDate”, “‘” & Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) & “‘” ) in FinalQuery

Fixes:

Unique variable names: Avoids redefining FinalQuery at every step.
Step-by-step replacement: First replaces @startDate, then @endDate.
Proper let…in structure: Ensures FinalQuery is the final output.

Paste this inside the Advanced Editor and try again! 🚀

You said:

okay, no errors detected.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now, let’s execute the query with these final steps:

Final Steps to Run the Query in SQL Server

Create a New SQL Connection
- Go to Power Query → New Source → Database → SQL Server Database
- Server: clarity.ssm.com
- Database (optional): Leave blank
- Click Advanced Options
Paste FinalQuery
- In the SQL Statement box, paste:

nginx

CopyEdit

FinalQuery

Click OK
Confirm Data Load
- If you see a preview of the results, click Close & Load
- If an error appears, screenshot it or copy the message, and we’ll fix it.

🔥 Go for it!

You said:

Expression.Erro as soon as Ieft that, we cannot convert the value 2013 to type Date. Detaile: Value = 2-13, type = [type]

ChatGPT said:

That error suggests that the startDateParam or endDateParam is not being correctly formatted as a date before being inserted into the SQL query.

Fix the Date Conversion Issue

Let’s make sure that Power Query correctly converts startDateParam and endDateParam to the proper SQL YYYY-MM-DD format.

Step 1: Modify the Date Format in Power Query

Open Power Query Editor
Select startDateParam
Look at the Applied Steps pane:
- If startDateParam is in Text format, we need to convert it.
Ensure Proper Date Format
- Click on Transform (Top Tab) → Data Type
- Select Date
- If needed, manually enter:

javascript

CopyEdit

= Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)

Repeat for endDateParam

Step 2: Update FinalQuery in Power Query

In Advanced Editor, modify how startDateParam and endDateParam are inserted into SQL:

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FinalQuery = Text.Combine( { “SELECT * FROM table WHERE date_column BETWEEN ‘”, Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”), “‘ AND ‘”, Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”), “‘” }, “” )

Step 3: Retry Executing the Query

Once these are fixed, retry running the SQL statement by following the previous Final Steps.

🚀 Try it out and let me know what happens!

You said:

it is greyed out

ChatGPT said:

It sounds like startDateParam and endDateParam are not recognized as date values yet, which is causing Power Query to treat them incorrectly.

Fixing the Greyed-Out Issue & Date Conversion Error

Step 1: Manually Convert startDateParam & endDateParam to Dates

Open Power Query Editor
Click on startDateParam in the Queries pane
In the Applied Steps section, look for the last transformation
Click on Transform (Top Menu) > Data Type > Date
- If “Date” is greyed out, follow this:
  - Click Transform > Data Type > Text first
  - Then, try Transform > Data Type > Date again
If needed, manually add this transformation in Advanced Editor:

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startDateParam = Date.FromText(startDateParam)

Repeat the same for endDateParam

Step 2: Verify in FinalQuery

Go to FinalQuery in Advanced Editor
Ensure that when inserting startDateParam and endDateParam into SQL, they are formatted correctly:

CopyEdit

Click Done

Step 3: Close & Load the Query

In Power Query, go to File > Close & Load
Try running the query again

What to Do If It’s Still Greyed Out

If data type selection is still greyed out, delete and re-create startDateParam & endDateParam
Go to Manage Parameters (in the ribbon) → Create New Parameter → Set Type: Date
Use the newly created parameters in your SQL query

👉 Try these fixes and let me know what happens!

You said:

I need a break. I’ve not been able to keep this straight. Can you give me updated instructions from start to now while I get something else to eat?

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it. Take your time. When you’re ready, I’ll have a structured, step-by-step guide waiting for you to follow from start to finish. Let me know when you’re back!

You said:

Can you provide me a summary of everything I need to do from start to now. I need to reclaim my laptop but I don’t lose our working session.

ChatGPT said:

Understood! Here’s a structured step-by-step guide covering everything we’ve done so far. When you’re ready, you can start fresh without getting lost.

Goal

Load dynamic SQL into Power Query, allowing Excel parameters (StartDate and EndDate) to pass into an SQL query and return filtered results.

Phase 1: Prepare SQL Code as Text in Power Query

Open Power Query Editor:
- Go to Data > Get Data > Launch Power Query Editor (if not already open).
Create a new blank query for SQL Code:
- Home > New Source > Other Sources > Blank Query
- Rename it to Query1.
Manually Enter SQL Code as a Table:
- Transform > Enter Data
- Paste your SQL query, ensuring it is one row in a column named SQLCode.
- Click OK.
Promote Headers if Needed:
- Transform > Use First Row as Headers (if required).

Phase 2: Create Dynamic Parameters for SQL

Create StartDateParam and EndDateParam:
- New Source > Other Sources > Blank Query
- Rename each query accordingly.
- Open Advanced Editor and replace content with:

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StartDateParam = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”StartDate”]}[Content]{0}[Column1]

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EndDateParam = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”EndDate”]}[Content]{0}[Column1]

Click Done for each.

Phase 3: Replace Placeholders in SQL Code

Find & Replace @StartDate and @EndDate in SQL Query:
- Select Query1.
- Transform > Replace Values (twice, for each parameter).
- Replace @StartDate with Text.From(StartDateParam).
- Replace @EndDate with Text.From(EndDateParam).
Convert SQL Query into a Single String:
- Open Advanced Editor.
- Modify the last step before in to:

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FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “)

Click Done.

Phase 4: Pass SQL Query to Database

Create New SQL Server Connection:
- Home > New Source > Database > SQL Server Database.
- Server Name: clarity.ssm.com
- Database: Leave blank.
- Expand Advanced Options and paste:

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FinalQuery

Click OK.
Enable Data Load (if disabled):
- Right-click the new query > Enable Load.
Close & Load to Excel:

Close & Load To…
Choose Table or Connection Only as needed.

At this point, you should have a working dynamic SQL query pulling filtered data based on the StartDate and EndDate parameters from Excel.

Let me know when you’re ready to resume! 🚀

You said:

thanks. We’ll pick this up later.

ChatGPT said:

Sounds good! Take your time, and when you’re ready, we’ll pick up right where we left off. 🚀 Enjoy your break!

You said:

I created Blank Query > Query 1. There is no Transform > Enter Data

ChatGPT said:

You’re right—Enter Data is not under Transform, it’s under Home.

Try this:
1️⃣ Select Query1 in the Power Query Editor.
2️⃣ Go to the Home tab.
3️⃣ Click Enter Data (should be near “New Source”).

Let me know if you see it!

You said:

I was able to paste and when it asked for first row as header i said no. What should Column1 be?

ChatGPT said:

Set Column1 to SQLCode (this keeps it clear that this is your SQL script).

Now, click OK to create the table, and let me know what you see next!

You said:

I see on the left hand side Query1 and then Table. Table in the top screen has the SQLCode table with rows 1 2 3 for each script of the sql code.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Now, let’s clean this up:

1️⃣ Rename Query1 to FinalQuery

Right-click Query1 in the Queries pane → Choose Rename → Enter FinalQuery

2️⃣ Combine SQL Code into a Single Line

Open the Advanced Editor (Right-click FinalQuery → Advanced Editor)
Find the Source step, which looks like this:

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Source = #table( … )

Directly below it, add this new step:

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(Source[SQLCode], ” “)

Ensure the last line of the editor says:

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in FinalQuery

Click Done

3️⃣ Confirm Data Preview

In the grey area below the formula bar, you should see the entire SQL statement as a single line

Once this is set up, let me know what you see! 🚀

You said:

final query > advanced editor has no #table reference.

ChatGPT said:

No problem! Let’s check what’s inside the Advanced Editor for FinalQuery.

1️⃣ Open the Advanced Editor

Right-click FinalQuery → Advanced Editor

2️⃣ What do you see?

Copy and paste the full code here so I can guide you better.

We need to locate the correct variable holding your SQL code and apply Text.Combine() properly. Let’s fix this together! 🚀

You said:

i can’t copy and paste because you’re on my laptop. basically it is let Source = “” in Source

ChatGPT said:

Got it! That means FinalQuery is empty right now. Let’s fix that:

Steps to Fix FinalQuery

1️⃣ Replace the Code in Advanced Editor

Erase what’s there and enter the following:

powerquery

CopyEdit

let FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “) in FinalQuery

Click Done ✅

2️⃣ Confirm Data Preview

If done correctly, the grey area below the formula field should now show a single SQL statement.
Does it display the full SQL query?

Let me know what you see! 🚀

You said:

replaced Value1 is not recognized.

ChatGPT said:

That means we don’t have the step “Replaced Value1” yet in this query. Let’s correct it:

Fixing FinalQuery in Advanced Editor

1️⃣ Open Advanced Editor for FinalQuery.

Replace everything inside with:

powerquery

CopyEdit

let SQLTable = #”Query1″, // Ensure this matches the correct name of your table query FinalQuery = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “) in FinalQuery

2️⃣ Click Done and check the data preview.

Expected Result

The grey area should now display one full SQL statement.
If you get an error, let me know exactly what it says!

You said:

FinalQuery has one line with the SQL combined.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now we’re back on track.

Next Step: Running This SQL in the Database

Now, we will pass FinalQuery into the SQL Server connection.

1️⃣ Create a New SQL Server Connection

Go to: New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database
Enter your server: clarity.ssm.com
Database (optional): Leave it blank for now.
Click “Advanced Options”
Paste FinalQuery into the SQL statement box
Click OK

2️⃣ Authentication

Use the same authentication method as before.
Click Connect

3️⃣ Check the Results

If it loads data correctly, we’re good!
If it throws an error, tell me exactly what it says.

Let me know how this goes! 🚀

You said:

have we added the start and end dates to PQ Editor. I have not.

ChatGPT said:

No, we haven’t added the Start Date and End Date parameters to Power Query yet. Let’s do that now before running the SQL.

1️⃣ Create the Start Date Parameter

Go to: Home > Manage Parameters > New Parameter
Name: startDateParam
Type: Date/Time
Suggested Value: Any valid date (e.g., 1/1/2024)
Current Value: Set an actual date (e.g., 1/1/2024)
Click OK

2️⃣ Create the End Date Parameter

Go to: Home > Manage Parameters > New Parameter
Name: endDateParam
Type: Date/Time
Suggested Value: Any valid date (e.g., 1/31/2024)
Current Value: Set an actual date (e.g., 1/31/2024)
Click OK

3️⃣ Convert Dates to Text for SQL Compatibility

Go to: startDateParam query
Change the formula in the formula bar to:

powerquery

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= Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)

Do the same for endDateParam, changing its formula to:

powerquery

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= Text.From(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)

4️⃣ Use These Parameters in FinalQuery

Since FinalQuery contains the SQL text, update it in Advanced Editor to dynamically insert the start and end dates:

Open: FinalQuery
Go to: Advanced Editor
Modify the SQL statement inside FinalQuery like this:

powerquery

CopyEdit

FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “PLACEHOLDER_START_DATE”, startDateParam), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “PLACEHOLDER_END_DATE”, endDateParam)

This replaces placeholders in your SQL with the selected dates.
Ensure your SQL code inside Power Query has “PLACEHOLDER_START_DATE” and “PLACEHOLDER_END_DATE” where the date values should be inserted.

5️⃣ Continue with SQL Server Connection

Now that we have FinalQuery fully set up, go back to the SQL connection step and proceed with running the query.

Let me know how it goes! 🚀

You said:

I have them added. There are now 4 queries startDateParam (3/11/2024) and endDateParam(3/12/2024). I don’t see where to change formula. The middle section is showing current value and Manage Parameter.

ChatGPT said:

How to Change the Formula for startDateParam and endDateParam

Now that the parameters are created, we need to convert them to text format so they work in SQL.

1️⃣ Select startDateParam and Edit Its Formula

Click on startDateParam in the Queries pane (left side).
Go to the formula bar at the top (above the middle section).
- If you don’t see the formula bar, enable it:
  View > Formula Bar (checkbox).
Replace the existing formula (which just shows the date) with:

powerquery

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= Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)

Press Enter to apply the change.

2️⃣ Select endDateParam and Edit Its Formula

Click on endDateParam in the Queries pane.
In the formula bar, replace its formula with:

powerquery

CopyEdit

= Text.From(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)

Press Enter to apply the change.

3️⃣ Confirm the Changes

Both startDateParam and endDateParam should now display dates as text (e.g., “2024-03-11”).
If they still look like regular dates, double-check that you entered the formulas correctly.

Once done, let me know, and we’ll move to the next step! 🚀

You said:

formula bar is checked, clicking on startdateParam does not change the middle screen.

ChatGPT said:

That means startDateParam is still being treated as a parameter, not a query. We need to convert it into a query before we can modify its formula.

Convert startDateParam & endDateParam to Queries

1️⃣ Open Manage Parameters

In Power Query Editor, go to Home > Manage Parameters > Manage Parameters
Find startDateParam and endDateParam in the list.

2️⃣ Convert Them to Queries

Click startDateParam
Uncheck “Required” (optional, but can help)
Change the Type to Text
Click OK

Repeat the same steps for endDateParam.

Now Modify the Formula

Click on startDateParam in the Queries pane (left side)
You should now see the formula bar—enter:

powerquery

CopyEdit

= Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)

Press Enter

Do the same for endDateParam, then confirm both are now showing text dates. 🚀

You said:

start and end paramaters converted at formula bar, check.

ChatGPT said:

Perfect! Now we need to update FinalQuery so that it dynamically inserts these parameters into the SQL statement.

1️⃣ Modify FinalQuery to Use Parameters

Click on FinalQuery
Open Advanced Editor (Home > Advanced Editor)
Update the FinalQuery definition to include startDateParam and endDateParam:

powerquery

CopyEdit

let FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, startDateParam), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, endDateParam) in FinalQuery

Click Done

2️⃣ Verify FinalQuery Output

Click on FinalQuery
Check the preview pane (middle section)
- It should now show the SQL statement with the correct start and end dates inserted.

If it looks good, let me know, and we’ll move to the next step! 🚀

You said:

what hapened to SQLTable = #”Query1″,?

ChatGPT said:

Good question! The line

powerquery

CopyEdit

SQLTable = #”Query1″,

was originally used to reference the table containing the SQL code. However, since we already referenced #”Replaced Value1″[SQLCode] to combine the query, that step became redundant.

If you’d prefer a more structured approach, we can reintroduce SQLTable for clarity, like this:

powerquery

CopyEdit

let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQuery = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, startDateParam), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, endDateParam) in FinalQuery

This keeps the reference to SQLTable, making it clearer where the SQL is coming from. Either method works, but this way keeps things modular.

Would you like to keep SQLTable for better readability?

You said:

Yes, i hate to lose that connection, and if I comment it out it will seem odd and not remind me of why it’s there.

ChatGPT said:

Failed to edit

You’ll need to create a new text document first before I can update it with the latest version of your query. Let me know if you want me to set that up!

You said:

i made a mistake. there needs to be a comma instead of a period on that endDateParam. How do I get back into it. I have an Expression: Syntax Error Token warning.

ChatGPT said:

To fix the syntax error in endDateParam:

Steps to Edit and Correct endDateParam:

Open Power Query Editor
- In Excel, go to Data > Get Data > Launch Power Query Editor (if not already open).
Select endDateParam Query
- In the left Queries pane, click on endDateParam.
Edit the Formula Bar
- If the Formula Bar is not visible:
  - Go to View > Formula Bar (ensure it’s checked).
- Look for the incorrect period (.) and replace it with a comma (,).
- The formula should be:

powerquery

CopyEdit

= #date(YYYY, MM, DD)

Example:

powerquery

CopyEdit

= #date(2024, 3, 12)

Confirm and Apply Changes
- Press Enter after correcting the formula.
- Click Close & Load (or Close & Load To if needed).

If you still see the error, let me know what the formula currently looks like!

You said:

oh it may be something we encountered before, it says vairable FinalQuery is already defined in this scope.

ChatGPT said:

Yes, we’ve seen this before—this happens when FinalQuery is being defined more than once in Advanced Editor.

How to Fix the “FinalQuery is already defined in this scope” Error

Step 1: Open the Advanced Editor

In Power Query Editor, click on FinalQuery in the Queries pane.
Go to Home > Advanced Editor.

Step 2: Find the Duplicate Definition

Look for multiple lines that say:

powerquery

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FinalQuery = …

If FinalQuery appears twice in the let … in block, remove one of them.

Step 3: Make Sure FinalQuery is Properly Defined

The correct definition should look like:

powerquery

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FinalQuery = Text.Combine(#”Replaced Value1″[SqlCode], ” “)

If there’s another conflicting line defining FinalQuery, remove or rename it.

Step 4: Check the in Statement

At the bottom of the Advanced Editor, ensure the in statement only returns FinalQuery once:

powerquery

CopyEdit

in FinalQuery

If another variable name is being returned, change it to FinalQuery.

Step 5: Apply Changes

Click Done, and check if the error disappears.

If the issue persists, can you copy the entire code from Advanced Editor so I can spot the exact issue? 🚀

You said:

it appears 3 times. Remember let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQuery = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, startDateParam), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, endDateParam) in FinalQuery

ChatGPT said:

Got it! You have FinalQuery being defined three separate times, which Power Query doesn’t allow. You need to chain the transformations instead of redefining FinalQuery multiple times.

Fixed Version of Your Code

Replace your current Advanced Editor code with this:

powerquery

CopyEdit

let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), // First definition FinalQueryStep1 = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-03-11”, startDateParam), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQueryStep1, “2024-03-12”, endDateParam) // Final version in FinalQuery

Why This Works

FinalQueryRaw: Combines the SQL code.
FinalQueryStep1: Replaces the start date.
FinalQuery: Replaces the end date.

Now, FinalQuery is only defined once, fixing the error. 🚀

You said:

it changed but I’m still getting a yellow triangle cyclic reference. Should we close PQ and reopen it from Excel?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, closing and reopening Power Query from Excel can help refresh everything and clear any cyclic reference issues. Try this:

Steps to Refresh Power Query

Close Power Query: Click Close & Load (if available) or just exit Power Query.
Reopen Power Query:
- In Excel, go to Data > Get Data > Launch Power Query Editor.
Check Queries & Dependencies:
- On the left panel, ensure startDateParam, endDateParam, and FinalQuery are listed without yellow triangles.
- Open FinalQuery and see if the cyclic reference persists.

If the error remains, we may need to check whether Query1 (which holds the SQL code) is referencing FinalQuery, causing a loop. Let me know what you see!

You said:

my fault, i forgot to change the FinalQuery variables within the statement. We’re good here.

ChatGPT said:

No worries! Glad you caught it. Let me know if anything else pops up. 🚀

You said:

Next step.

ChatGPT said:

Great! Next step:

Load the Final Query into SQL Server Connection

1️⃣ New Source > Database > From SQL Server Database

Server: clarity.ssm.com
Database (optional): Leave it blank
Advanced Options > SQL Statement: Paste FinalQuery

2️⃣ Click OK and let Power Query run the SQL statement.

Let me know if you hit any issues! 🚀

You said:

we never got to the step with Text.From(startDateParam)

ChatGPT said:

You’re right! We haven’t applied the Text.From(startDateParam) transformation yet. Let’s do that now before proceeding with the SQL Server connection.

Step: Convert Dates to Strings in FinalQuery

Modify your FinalQuery in the Advanced Editor:

Current Code:

CopyEdit

Updated Code:

Modify the Text.Replace functions to use Text.From():

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQuery = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam)) in FinalQuery

✅ Save and close the Advanced Editor.
✅ Verify that no errors appear in the query.

Once confirmed, we’ll proceed with the SQL Server connection. 🚀

You said:

um….that’s not going to work because we have multiple FinalQuery variables happening

ChatGPT said:

Good catch! Since FinalQuery is being redefined multiple times, we need to ensure that each step is properly structured. Let’s refactor the code while keeping it clear and avoiding redefinition issues.

Updated Code (Corrected for Multiple FinalQuery Definitions)

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, CombinedSQL = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), ReplacedStartDate = Text.Replace(CombinedSQL, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(ReplacedStartDate, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam)) in FinalQuery

Why This Works

CombinedSQL: Combines the SQL code into a single string.
ReplacedStartDate: Replaces “2024-03-11” with startDateParam, correctly converted to text.
FinalQuery: Replaces “2024-03-12” with endDateParam, also converted to text.
The variable FinalQuery is only defined once at the end, avoiding the cyclic reference issue.

✅ Apply this in the Advanced Editor.
✅ Confirm there are no errors.

Once done, we can proceed with using FinalQuery in the SQL Server connection! 🚀

You said:

Now we’re losing the FinalQueryRaw, Step1, etc. Is there anyway we can preserve this code? Or at least pin this, so when I get the full instructions, we’ll know how to address?

ChatGPT said:

Yes! Let’s preserve FinalQueryRaw, Step1, etc., while keeping everything structured. Here’s the fully structured version that maintains all intermediate steps for clarity.

Refactored Code (Preserving Steps & Clarity)

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), // Original SQL Code Combined Step1 = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam)), // Replace Start Date Step2 = Text.Replace(Step1, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam)), // Replace End Date FinalQuery = Step2 // Final Processed Query in FinalQuery

How This Works & Why It’s Useful

FinalQueryRaw: Stores the original SQL code before modifications.
Step1: Replaces “2024-03-11” with the dynamic startDateParam.
Step2: Replaces “2024-03-12” with the dynamic endDateParam.
FinalQuery: The final cleaned-up query, ready for execution.

Why Keep These Steps?

✅ Debugging: If something breaks, you can check FinalQueryRaw, Step1, or Step2 for issues.
✅ Transparency: Makes it easier to see how the query evolves at each stage.
✅ Future Flexibility: If we need to add more replacements, we can insert them cleanly.

💾 Pin This for Later: If you want to refer back to this structure, you can either:
1️⃣ Copy & paste this into a separate text file.
2️⃣ Create a new query (FinalQuery_Debug) and store this structure there.
3️⃣ Save it in the Power Query “Advanced Editor” notes section (if applicable).

Now that we’ve preserved everything, what’s the next step you’d like to tackle? 🚀

You said:

my FinalQuery still doesn’t show the expected & Text.FromIstartDateParam) And Text.From(endDateParam) in the sql code.

ChatGPT said:

If FinalQuery doesn’t show the expected Text.From(startDateParam) and Text.From(endDateParam), let’s check a few things carefully:

1️⃣ Verify the Current FinalQuery Output

In Power Query, click on FinalQuery in the Queries pane and check the middle preview pane.
Does it still show hardcoded dates (e.g., “2024-03-11”) instead of the parameters?
If so, Power Query didn’t replace them correctly.

2️⃣ Ensure startDateParam & endDateParam Are Used Correctly

In Advanced Editor, update FinalQuery to ensure Text.From(startDateParam) and Text.From(endDateParam) are correctly applied:

CopyEdit

let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), Step1 = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam)), Step2 = Text.Replace(Step1, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam)), FinalQuery = Step2 in FinalQuery

🚀 Double-check:
✅ Are the hardcoded dates exactly “2024-03-11” and “2024-03-12” in Query1?
✅ Does FinalQueryRaw contain the full SQL query with these dates?
✅ Are startDateParam and endDateParam showing as real date values in Power Query (not null or text)?

3️⃣ Test Replacements Manually

💡 If still broken, test replacements step-by-step in Power Query:

Test 1: Check FinalQueryRaw

Click FinalQueryRaw in the Queries pane.
Confirm the full SQL text appears, including “2024-03-11” and “2024-03-12”.

Test 2: Check Step1

Click Step1 in Queries.
Does it correctly replace “2024-03-11” with startDateParam?
If not, manually replace Text.From(startDateParam) with a fixed string like “TEST_DATE”.

Test 3: Check Step2

Click Step2.
Ensure “2024-03-12” is correctly replaced with endDateParam.

4️⃣ Fix If Parameters Are Not Recognized

If Power Query treats startDateParam or endDateParam as text instead of dates, try this fix:

CopyEdit

Step1 = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))), Step2 = Text.Replace(Step1, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)))

🔹 This forces Power Query to convert the date into a properly formatted string (YYYY-MM-DD).

🚀 Final Check

1️⃣ Does FinalQuery now correctly show startDateParam and endDateParam in the SQL?
2️⃣ If errors remain, what exactly does FinalQuery contain now?

Let me know what you see! 🛠

You said:

no, it says between @startDate and @endDate

ChatGPT said:

Ah, that means your SQL query is using parameter placeholders (@startDate and @endDate) instead of hardcoded dates. Power Query doesn’t automatically replace these placeholders.

We need to adjust the query so that Power Query injects the actual dates in place of @startDate and @endDate.

🔧 Solution: Modify FinalQuery to Replace Placeholders

Instead of replacing “2024-03-11” and “2024-03-12”, update FinalQuery like this in Advanced Editor:

CopyEdit

let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), Step1 = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))), Step2 = Text.Replace(Step1, “@endDate”, Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))), FinalQuery = Step2 in FinalQuery

🛠 Explanation of Fix:

✅ Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)))

This replaces @startDate with your actual startDateParam value.

✅ Text.Replace(Step1, “@endDate”, Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)))

This replaces @endDate with your actual endDateParam value.

✅ Ensures Date Format is YYYY-MM-DD, which SQL expects.

🔍 Next Steps:

1️⃣ Open Power Query > Advanced Editor for FinalQuery.
2️⃣ Replace the existing code with the updated version above.
3️⃣ Click Done, then check if FinalQuery now correctly shows real date values instead of @startDate and @endDate.
4️⃣ If successful, connect FinalQuery to the database and run the query.

❓ What If It Still Shows @startDate and @endDate?

If your SQL server expects actual parameters instead of text replacement, we may need a different approach using Value.NativeQuery. Let me know what you see after this fix! 🚀

You said:

why are there 3 closing parenthesis? Shouldn’t there only be 2?

ChatGPT said:

You’re absolutely right to question that! Let’s break it down:

The original snippet:

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Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)))

Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”) → Converts the date to a string in yyyy-MM-dd format.
Text.From(…) → Converts it explicitly to text (not always necessary, but a safe habit in Power Query).
Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, …) → Replaces @startDate with the converted date.

So, How Many Parentheses?

Each function call requires an opening and closing parenthesis, so there should only be two closing parentheses. The correct structure is:

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Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)))

And the same for @endDate.

If there were three closing parentheses, it would be an error—so if you see three, remove the extra one!

Nice catch! 🧐

You said:

nope, i see it. Expression Eror. we cannot convert the value TextFrom(startDateP… to type Date

ChatGPT said:

That error means Power Query is trying to treat Text.From(startDateParam) as a Date when it should be Text. Let’s refine the expression properly.

Updated Code:

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Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))

Why?

Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”) → Directly converts startDateParam to text in yyyy-MM-dd format.
Text.From(…) is not needed here because Date.ToText(…) already returns a Text value.

Final Adjusted Query

Make sure both date replacements are updated:

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FinalQueryStep1 = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQueryStep1, “@endDate”, Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))

🔹 Key Fix:

Removed unnecessary Text.From().
Ensured Date.ToText() correctly converts dates before replacing them in the SQL query.

This should work. Let me know if you still see an error! 🚀

You said:

expression error: we cannot convert the value “text.from(startdate to type Date I thought that was odd since we made the change. I restarted PQ, same error.

ChatGPT said:

That error suggests that startDateParam is still being referenced incorrectly. Let’s double-check our approach.

Fix: Ensure startDateParam is Actually a Date Type

1️⃣ Click on startDateParam in the Queries pane (left side of Power Query).
2️⃣ Check the data type in the top-left (next to the formula bar).

If it’s not a Date, change it to Date.
3️⃣ Do the same for endDateParam.

Revised Code (with Proper Conversion)

Once both startDateParam and endDateParam are confirmed as Dates, update the expressions:

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Why This Works

Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”) ensures startDateParam is treated as a date before conversion.
The error happens if Power Query still thinks startDateParam is text before conversion.

Try this and let me know if the issue persists! 🚀

You said:

i think it’s showing up as a string, since i see the abc icon next to the query. But it’s not letting me change anything because of the error I’m assuming

ChatGPT said:

Yes! The abc icon means Power Query sees startDateParam as text instead of a date. Since it’s locked by the error, we’ll force the correction manually.

Fixing the Data Type Manually

1️⃣ Go to Advanced Editor for startDateParam

Right-click startDateParam in the Queries pane → Click Advanced Editor

2️⃣ Modify the code to explicitly convert it to a Date:

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startDateParam = Date.From(#date(2024, 03, 11))

Replace 2024, 03, 11 with the actual date you need.
Do the same for endDateParam using its respective value.

3️⃣ Click Done, then check if the abc icon changes to a calendar icon (Date Type).

Once Fixed, Reapply Date.ToText in FinalQuery

After confirming startDateParam and endDateParam are dates, update the FinalQuery logic:

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Try this and let me know what happens! 🚀

You said:

wait a minute….we’ve not address the cell reference throughout this whole process.

ChatGPT said:

You’re right! We never actually linked startDateParam and endDateParam to the Excel sheet. Power Query doesn’t magically know where to pull these values from unless we tell it explicitly.

Let’s fix this now.

🔹 Step 1: Load Date Values from Excel

1️⃣ Go to Excel and name your cells

Click on the Start Date cell → Go to Formulas > Define Name → Name it StartDate
Click on the End Date cell → Go to Formulas > Define Name → Name it EndDate
(This makes it easier for Power Query to find them.)

2️⃣ Go back to Power Query

Click New Source > Excel Workbook
Select your current workbook
A list of named ranges should appear. Choose StartDate first.

3️⃣ Transform it into a single value

In Power Query, you’ll see a small table with one column and one row.
Click on the value itself (not the column header).
Click Transform > Convert to List
Then, click Transform > Convert to Value

4️⃣ Rename it to startDateParam

In the Query Settings pane on the right, rename this query to startDateParam.
Do the same steps for EndDate.

🔹 Step 2: Use These in FinalQuery

Now, update FinalQuery so it correctly replaces the placeholders:

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Now, Test It!

Go back to Excel, change the dates in the cells, and refresh Power Query.
The SQL should automatically update to use the new date values!

That was a HUGE missing step. Thanks for catching that! Try it now and let me know what happens. 🚀

You said:

wait. this whole learning experience has been a lot of that didn’t work, go back, that didn’t go back, oh we forgot this entire thing, let’s squeeze that in…..that doesn’t really work for me if I want to repeat this process in my working life.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it. You need a structured, repeatable process that doesn’t rely on constant adjustments. Let’s take a step back and create a clear, end-to-end guide for setting up Power Query with dynamic date parameters from Excel.

Would you like me to summarize the full instructions now, or do you want to finish debugging first and then document everything?

You said:

Let’s make our adjustments so we can incorporate any changes we uncover. Learn from those. Then we start with a brand new workbook, step by step.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

That makes a lot of sense. We’ll refine what we have now, making sure everything is working as expected, and then document a clear, structured process before starting fresh in a new workbook. Let’s address the current issue first.

Your startDateParam and endDateParam are likely being treated as text rather than actual date values when inserted into the SQL query. Let’s explicitly convert them to text in the correct format before inserting them:

Steps to Fix the Date Conversion Issue

Modify FinalQuery Transformation in the Advanced Editor:
- Find the line where you’re replacing the hardcoded dates in FinalQuery.
- Adjust the replacements to ensure dates are formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.

Here’s the corrected approach:

powerquery

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) in FinalQuery

Why This Fix?

Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”) ensures Power Query converts the date to the correct string format.
This should now insert the formatted date into your SQL statement properly.

Try this update, and let me know if any errors remain!

You said:

two things, 1 that didn’t work, still get the error, and 2) in the future, let’s make our dummy data 01-01-2024.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Understood. Let’s address the error first. Since the system is still treating startDateParam and endDateParam as Date types, we need to ensure that Text.From(startDateParam) correctly converts them into a string before injecting them into the SQL.

Try This:

Open Power Query Editor.
Click on FinalQuery.
Open Advanced Editor.
Modify the Text.Replace lines to ensure they are properly converting the parameters into text:

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “@endDate”, Text.From(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)) in FinalQuery

Why This Should Work:

Text.From(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”) ensures the date is converted into a format SQL understands.
Using @startDate and @endDate instead of raw values makes it easier to swap placeholders dynamically.

After making this change, try refreshing the query and let me know what happens!

You said:

Dude. We just changed @startDate to “2024-03-11” and now we’re putting it back to correct the error?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right to call that out—it feels like backtracking. The issue isn’t just the placeholder, but ensuring Power Query properly injects the dates as text without causing type conflicts. Let’s do this systematically:

Adjusted Fix:

Open Power Query Editor.
Click FinalQuery.
Open Advanced Editor.
Modify the query like this:

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-01-01”, Text.From(startDateParam)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-01-02”, Text.From(endDateParam)) in FinalQuery

What Changed?

We’re keeping static dummy dates (01-01-2024, 01-02-2024) in the SQL code as placeholders.
Instead of using @startDate, we replace those static dates dynamically.
This avoids Power Query treating the variable as a Date type in an unwanted way.

Next Steps:

Try refreshing the query after this change.
If you still see errors, check if startDateParam and endDateParam are both type “Text” in Power Query. If not, we may need to convert them properly before using Text.Replace.

Let me know what happens!

You said:

ok, we resolved the error but we’re still losing the war as the finalquery sql statement does not show Text.From(startDateParam) in its code.

ChatGPT said:

Great! We’ve resolved the error, but we’re not seeing Text.From(startDateParam) in the actual SQL statement, which means something is off with how Power Query is processing the replacements.

Let’s troubleshoot logically:

Check 1: Verify FinalQuery Output in Power Query

Click FinalQuery in Power Query.
Look at the preview pane—does the SQL statement have the actual date values, or is it still showing “2024-01-01” and “2024-01-02”?
- If it still shows “2024-01-01”, Power Query isn’t replacing the placeholders.
- If it shows something like “2024-03-11” instead, then Power Query is working correctly, and we just need to verify the execution in SQL Server.

Check 2: Force Evaluation of Replacements

Power Query can sometimes cache expressions instead of executing them as expected. Modify the FinalQuery step like this:

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), ReplacedStartDate = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “2024-01-01”, Text.From(startDateParam)), ReplacedEndDate = Text.Replace(ReplacedStartDate, “2024-01-02”, Text.From(endDateParam)), FinalQuery = ReplacedEndDate in FinalQuery

What Changed?

Instead of overwriting FinalQuery multiple times, we introduced intermediate steps (ReplacedStartDate and ReplacedEndDate) to force Power Query to evaluate each replacement separately.

Expected Outcome:

FinalQuery should now show the actual start and end dates in the SQL query.

Run this and check FinalQuery’s output. If the replacements are still missing, let’s debug further!

You said:

it is showing @startDate and @endDate in the code

ChatGPT said:

That means Power Query isn’t replacing “@startDate” and “@endDate” with the actual values. Let’s check a few things systematically.

1️⃣ Ensure @startDate and @endDate Exist in Query1

Open Query1 in Power Query.
Look at the column containing the SQL code—do you see @startDate and @endDate explicitly written in the query?
- If YES, then Power Query should be able to replace them.
- If NO, then the replacement can’t happen because they don’t exist in Query1.

2️⃣ Debug Power Query Replacements

Modify FinalQuery to output intermediate steps:

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), Debug1 = “Before Replacement: ” & FinalQueryRaw, // Check SQL before replacements ReplacedStartDate = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(startDateParam)), Debug2 = “After Replacing StartDate: ” & ReplacedStartDate, // Check if replacement worked ReplacedEndDate = Text.Replace(ReplacedStartDate, “@endDate”, Text.From(endDateParam)), Debug3 = “After Replacing EndDate: ” & ReplacedEndDate, // Final check FinalQuery = ReplacedEndDate in FinalQuery

3️⃣ What to Check

Click on FinalQuery in Power Query and check the preview.
- If it says “Before Replacement: SELECT … WHERE Date BETWEEN @startDate AND @endDate”, Power Query is reading the SQL correctly.
- If “After Replacing StartDate:” still shows @startDate, then the replacement isn’t working.
If Replacement Fails:
- Verify startDateParam is a text value.
- If startDateParam is still a date, wrap it in Text.From(startDateParam).

4️⃣ Manual Test: Hardcoding a Replacement

If the above doesn’t work, try a simple manual test:

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), TestReplace = Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, “2024-01-01”), FinalQuery = TestReplace in FinalQuery

If this works, then startDateParam is the issue (probably not being treated as text).
If this fails, something is wrong with how Power Query processes replacements.

Next Steps

Let me know what you see in the debug output! 🚀

You said:

DUDE. have you forgotten we haven’t made any cell references?

ChatGPT said:

You’re right! We’ve been deep in debugging, and we never linked Power Query to the actual Excel cells for start and end dates. Let’s fix that before anything else.

1️⃣ Load Start & End Dates from Excel

Step 1: Create Named Ranges in Excel

Go to Excel and select the cell where you want to enter the start date (e.g., A1).
Click in the Name Box (left of the formula bar) and type: StartDateCell, then press Enter.
Select another cell (e.g., A2) for the end date, and name it: EndDateCell.

Step 2: Load Named Ranges into Power Query

Data > Get Data > Other Sources > From Excel Workbook
Select the workbook you’re working in.
Look for StartDateCell and EndDateCell in the Navigator window.
Load them separately as two queries (startDateParam and endDateParam).

Step 3: Convert Them to Text

Open Power Query Editor.
Select startDateParam and make sure it is recognized as a single value, not a table.
- If Power Query shows a table, click Convert to List and then Extract First Value.
Do the same for endDateParam.
Convert both to text format using:

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Text.From(startDateParam)

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Text.From(endDateParam)

2️⃣ Now Do SQL Replacements Correctly

Once the Excel values are correctly loaded into Power Query as text, modify FinalQuery:

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let SQLTable = #”Query1″, FinalQueryRaw = Text.Combine(SQLTable[SQLCode], ” “), FinalQuery = Text.Replace( Text.Replace(FinalQueryRaw, “@startDate”, Text.From(startDateParam)), “@endDate”, Text.From(endDateParam) ) in FinalQuery

3️⃣ Validate the Changes

Click on FinalQuery and check if it now shows actual dates instead of @startDate and @endDate.
If it still doesn’t work, we may need to check how Power Query is reading those named ranges.

Next Steps

Try this, and let me know what happens when you check FinalQuery. 🚀

You said:

btw, my tabs are full of all the references, Query1, startDateParam, etc. I don’t care for that.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it. We’ll make sure to keep the Power Query pane organized and remove unnecessary queries once they’re no longer needed. Do you want to clean it up now or wait until after we verify everything is working?

You said:

no, just a notation for the final instructions

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

Got it. We’ll make sure the final instructions reflect a clean and structured approach. What’s the next issue you want to tackle?

2/2

You said:

I have two named ranges, startDate and endDate on cell B1 and B2. Take it from there.

ChatGPT said:

Alright! Now, let’s properly integrate these named ranges into Power Query. Here’s what we need to do:

Step 1: Load Named Ranges into Power Query

Go to Data > Get Data > From Other Sources > From Workbook.
Select your current workbook and click Import.
In the Navigator, look for your named ranges startDate and endDate.
Select startDate, then click Transform Data.
In Power Query, rename the query to startDateParam.
Check the data type (It should be Date. If not, change it).
Click Close & Load To…, then select Only Create Connection.
Repeat steps 4-7 for endDate.

Step 2: Convert Named Ranges into Values in Power Query

Open Power Query Editor (Data > Queries & Connections > Edit).
Click on startDateParam.
In the Formula Bar, replace the entire formula with:

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= Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=”startDate”]}[Content]{0}[Column1]

Press Enter (this extracts the single date value).
Repeat for endDateParam, replacing “startDate” with “endDate”.

Step 3: Inject Dynamic Dates into SQL Query

Open FinalQuery in Power Query.
In the Advanced Editor, find where we reference 2024-03-11 and 2024-03-12.
Replace them with:

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FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam))

Click Done and ensure there are no errors.

Step 4: Validate Final Query Output

Go to FinalQuery in Power Query.
Ensure @startDate and @endDate are replaced with actual values.
If correct, click Close & Load.

This should fully integrate the named ranges dynamically into your SQL query. Let me know how it goes! 🚀

You said:

Okay. I hovered over each cell, Get data > from other sources> but i used the table / range feature.

ChatGPT said:

That’s perfectly fine! From Table/Range works too—it just means your named range was automatically converted into a table. Since you’ve done that, let’s adjust the next steps accordingly.

Step 1: Convert Named Range Tables into Single Values

In Power Query Editor, select startDateParam.
In the Applied Steps pane, if there’s a Changed Type step, ensure the column is set to Date.
In the Formula Bar, replace the existing formula with:

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= #”Changed Type”{0}[Column1]

This extracts the first (and only) value from the table.
If your table has a different column name, replace Column1 with that name.
Press Enter to confirm.
Repeat for endDateParam.

Step 2: Inject Dynamic Dates into SQL Query

Open FinalQuery in Power Query.
Go to the Advanced Editor (Home > Advanced Editor).
Modify the SQL replacement lines to:

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FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(startDateParam)), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(endDateParam))

Click Done and check for errors.

Step 3: Validate the SQL Query Output

Ensure FinalQuery shows the actual date values instead of @startDate and @endDate.
If everything looks good, click Close & Load.

This method works whether you imported from Workbook or Table/Range. Let me know how it goes! 🚀

You said:

okay, did that but the dates have a time component on them.

ChatGPT said:

Good catch! Power Query sometimes adds a time component when converting to text. Let’s explicitly format it as YYYY-MM-DD to ensure consistency.

Fix: Format Date Without Time

Go back to startDateParam and endDateParam in Power Query.
Modify the formula in each query to ensure only the date part is extracted:

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Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))

Update the FinalQuery replacements so they use this clean format:

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FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-11”, Text.From(Date.ToText(startDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”))), FinalQuery = Text.Replace(FinalQuery, “2024-03-12”, Text.From(Date.ToText(endDateParam, “yyyy-MM-dd”)))

Press Enter, check that the time portion is gone, then Close & Load.

That should clean up the formatting while keeping it compatible with SQL. Let me know how it looks! 🚀

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