Chapter 7: Leveraging the M Language
Power Query is based on M language, which stands for Power Query Formula Language. Every time you perform a Power Query step, you are essentially writing M code. You can leverage the UI to transform your data without learning any M language at all but gaining an understanding of it could help you to customize even more Power Query transformations and perform quick corrections that are not possible with the UI only.
In this chapter, we will give an outline of M coding, explaining its differences from Data Analysis Expression (DAX) language (a familiar language to Power BI users), and you will see how to use M code on existing queries and how to create queries from scratch.
You will explore M coding examples through the following recipes:
- Using M syntax and the Advanced Editor
- Using M and DAX – differences
- Using M on existing queries
- Writing queries with M
- Creating tables in M
- Leveraging M – tips and...