Convert a Column to Whole Number Safely in Power Query M

Notes

Use this instead of Table.TransformColumnTypes when the column may contain values that won't convert cleanly, like blanks or stray text.

Requirements

• A column with mostly-numeric values that may include a few bad entries.

How to use this snippet

1. In Power BI Desktop, choose Transform data to open Power Query, then open the Advanced Editor on a query (or start from a blank query).
2. Paste the snippet and replace the placeholder names (tables, columns, file paths) with your own. Check the requirements above first.
3. Run it through the Power Query M Formatter to tidy the layout.

Related Power Query M snippets

• Convert Currency Text to Number ($1,200.50)Strips currency symbols and thousands separators from a text value before converting it to a proper number.
• Convert Parentheses to Negative NumbersConverts accounting-style values shown in parentheses, like (100), into a proper negative number.
• Convert Percent Text to DecimalConverts a text value like 45% into its decimal equivalent (0.45) as a proper number.
• Convert a Text Column to NumberConverts a text column containing numeric values into a proper Number type.
• Format a Number as Currency TextTurns a numeric column into a formatted currency string, such as $1,234.50.
• Replace Errors with NullCatches error values in a column and replaces them with null instead of failing the query.

More Power Query M resources

Browse all 145 snippets in the Power Query M Code Snippets, or search the library for something similar to Convert a Column to Whole Number Safely.