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Using the Queries pane

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In Power Query, you'll be creating many different queries. Whether it be from getting data from many tables or from duplicating the original query, the number of queries will increase.

You'll be using the Queries pane to navigate through the queries.

Queries Pane Basic.

The most basic usage of the Queries pane is to navigate to all of the queries. The navigation is similar to a file explorer. To switch between the queries, just select the query you want to go to.

Note

Some actions in the Power Query Online editor may be different than actions in the Power Query Desktop editor. These differences will be noted in this article.

Basic actions in the Query pane

Similar to features throughout the ribbon and the editor, the context menu of a query lets you make transformations directly onto the query.

To reach these actions, open the context menu (the right-click menu) in the Query pane.

Differences between online and desktop:

  • Power Query Online

    Queries Pane Context Menu on Query.

  • Power Query Desktop

    Queries Pane Context Menu on Query Desktop.

To be more comprehensive, we'll be touching on all of the context menu actions that are relevant for either.

Rename a query

To directly change the name of the query, double-select on the name of the query. This action will allow you to immediately change the name.

Other options to rename the query are:

  • Go to the context menu and select Rename.

    Queries Settings Rename.

  • Go to Query Settings and enter in a different name in the Name input field.

    Queries Pane On Query Rename.

Delete a query

To delete a query, open the context pane on the query and select Delete. There will be an additional pop-up confirming the deletion. To complete the deletion, select the Delete button.

Queries Pane On Query Delete.

Duplicating a query

Duplicating a query will create a copy of the query you're selecting.

To duplicate your query, open the context pane on the query and select Duplicate. A new duplicate query will pop up on the side of the query pane.

Queries Pane Duplicate.

Referencing a query

Referencing a query will create a new query. The new query uses the steps of a previous query without having to duplicate the query. Additionally, any changes on the original query will transfer down to the referenced query.

To reference your query, open the context pane on the query and select Reference. A new referenced query will pop up on the side of the query pane.

Queries Pane Reference.

Copy and paste

Copy and paste can be used when you have a copied query to place in the Power Query editor.

Note

To learn more about how to copy and paste queries in Power Query, go to Sharing a query.

Context pane options in the Queries pane

There are some additional context pane options in the Queries pane that you can use. These options are New query, Merge queries, New parameter, and New group.

To reach these options, open the context menu (the right-click menu) in the Queries pane.

Differences between online and desktop:

  • Power Query Online

    Queries Pane Context Menu Online.

  • Power Query Desktop

    Queries Pane Context Menu Desktop.

For the sake of being more comprehensive, we'll once again describe all of the context menu actions that are relevant for either.

New query

You can import data into the Power Query editor as an option from the context menu.

This option functions the same as the Get Data feature.

Queries Pane New Query.

Note

To learn about how to get data into Power Query, go to Getting data

Merge queries

When you select the Merge queries option from the context menu, the Merge queries input screen opens.

This option functions the same as the Merge queries feature located on the ribbon and in other areas of the editor.

Note

To learn more about how to use the Merge queries feature, go to Merge queries overview.

New parameter

When you select the New parameter option from the context menu, the New parameter input screen opens.

This option functions the same as the New parameter feature located on the ribbon.

Note

To learn more about Parameters in Power Query, go to Using parameters.

New group

You can make folders and move the queries into and out of the folders for organizational purposes. These folders are called groups.

Queries Pane New Group.

To move the query into a group, open the context menu on the specific query.

In the menu, select Move to group.

Then, select the group you want to put the query in.

Queries Pane Move To.

The move will look like the following image. Using the same steps as above, you can also move the query out of the group by selecting Queries (root) or another group.

Queries Pane Moved Into.

In desktop versions of Power Query, you can also drag and drop the queries into the folders.