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Power Query Editor Applied Steps support for nested Let In expressions and Inline functions

Vote (2)

Ryan Beesley on 26 Jan 2019 07:55:00

Consider a query like this:

let
foo = (rec) =>
let
bar = rec
in
bar,
baz = foo("bat")
in
baz

Evaluated, baz = "bat". In the Applied steps, this result can be seen, but the inline function just provides a way to Enter Parameter and provides no way to see what has happened to values passed in.

This could be remedied by allowing the user to enter parameters and then show them in the applied steps grouped with the function. Expanding the function would then allow the user to see those values propagate through the function.

As a nice side-effect of providing this feature, it could also be used for queries that are just a function as a way of debugging them.

Comments (1)

Comments (1)

Pär Adeen on 20 Jul 2021 07:08:38

RE: Power Query Editor Applied Steps support for nested Let In expressions and Inline functions

I totally agree. And as you said, this could also be used for none functions as well like in the simple example below.
let
Interest = 3,
TotalInterest =
let
NumberOfYears = 5,
InterestAsDecimal = Interest / 100,
Result = Number.Power(1 + InterestAsDecimal, NumberOfYears)
in
Result
in
TotalInterest

In the Applied Steps you only see the steps:
Interest
TotalInterest

How nice wouldn't it be to have a "+" sign at the TotalInterest step and by clicking the "+" sign you then also see:
NumberOfYears = 5,
InterestAsDecimal = Interest / 100,
Result = Number.Power(1 + InterestAsDecimal, NumberOfYears)