Appending queries in Excel - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

Two separate lists of students and their scores in columns A and B. The first list is in rows 1-3, the second list is in rows 5-7.

Cell	Value
A1	Name
B1	Score
A2	Alice
B2	85
A3	Bob
B3	90
A5	Name
B5	Score
A6	Charlie
B6	78
A7	Diana
B7	92

Formula Trace

=VSTACK(A1:B3, A5:B7)

Step 1: A1:B3

Step 2: A5:B7

Step 3: VSTACK(A1:B3, A5:B7)

Cell Reference Map

    A       B   
1 |Name   |Score|
2 |Alice  | 85  |
3 |Bob    | 90  |
4 |       |     |
5 |Name   |Score|
6 |Charlie| 78  |
7 |Diana  | 92  |

The formula references two ranges: A1:B3 and A5:B7, which are two separate tables with headers and data.

Result

    A       B   
1 |Name   |Score|
2 |Alice  | 85  |
3 |Bob    | 90  |
4 |Name   |Score|
5 |Charlie| 78  |
6 |Diana  | 92  |

The result shows the two tables stacked vertically, including the repeated header row from the second table.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the formula =VSTACK(A1:B3, A5:B7) do?

A Adds the numbers in the two tables.

B Stacks the two tables vertically, including repeated headers.

C Joins the tables side by side horizontally.

D Filters out the header rows.

Key Result

VSTACK stacks multiple ranges vertically, appending rows from each range one after another.

Practice

1. What does appending queries do in Excel Power Query?

easy

A. Filters rows based on conditions

B. Joins tables side-by-side to combine columns

C. Stacks tables vertically to combine rows

D. Sorts data alphabetically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand appending queries

   Appending means stacking tables one on top of another, combining rows from each table.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other operations

   Joining combines columns side-by-side, filtering removes rows, sorting arranges data. Only appending stacks rows.

3. Final Answer:

   Stacks tables vertically to combine rows -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Appending = stacking rows [OK]

Hint: Appending stacks rows; joining stacks columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing appending with joining tables
• Thinking appending filters or sorts data
• Assuming appending merges columns

2. Which of these is the correct way to append two queries named Sales2023 and Sales2024 in Power Query formula language?

easy

A. Table.Combine({Sales2023, Sales2024})

B. Table.Append(Sales2023, Sales2024)

C. Append.Tables(Sales2023, Sales2024)

D. Combine.Tables(Sales2023, Sales2024)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Power Query append syntax

   The correct function to append tables is Table.Combine which takes a list of tables.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   Table.Combine({Sales2023, Sales2024}) uses Table.Combine({Sales2023, Sales2024}) which is correct syntax. Others use incorrect function names or argument formats.

3. Final Answer:

   Table.Combine({Sales2023, Sales2024}) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use Table.Combine with list of tables [OK]

Hint: Use Table.Combine with curly braces for multiple tables [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using Table.Append which is not a valid function
• Missing curly braces around tables list
• Confusing function names like Append.Tables

3. Given two tables in Power Query:
Table1 = Table.FromRecords({[ID=1, Name="Anna"], [ID=2, Name="Ben"]})
Table2 = Table.FromRecords({[ID=3, Name="Cara"], [ID=4, Name="Dan"]})
What is the result of Table.Combine({Table1, Table2})?

medium

A. A table with 2 rows: Anna, Ben

B. An error because tables have different rows

C. A table with 2 rows: Cara, Dan

D. A table with 4 rows: Anna, Ben, Cara, Dan

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Table.Combine behavior

   Table.Combine stacks rows from both tables into one table.

2. Step 2: Count rows after combining

   Table1 has 2 rows (Anna, Ben), Table2 has 2 rows (Cara, Dan). Combined table has 4 rows total.

3. Final Answer:

   A table with 4 rows: Anna, Ben, Cara, Dan -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Appending stacks all rows [OK]

Hint: Appending adds all rows from both tables [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking only first table rows remain
• Expecting error due to different data
• Confusing append with join

4. You wrote this Power Query formula to append two tables:
Table.Combine(SalesJan, SalesFeb)
But it gives an error. What is the problem?

medium

A. Missing curly braces around tables list

B. Table.Combine cannot append tables

C. Table names must be in quotes

D. Function name should be Append.Tables

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Table.Combine syntax

   Table.Combine expects a list of tables inside curly braces, like {SalesJan, SalesFeb}.

2. Step 2: Identify missing syntax

   The formula lacks curly braces, so it passes two arguments instead of one list, causing error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing curly braces around tables list -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use curly braces for list input [OK]

Hint: Always wrap tables in curly braces for Table.Combine [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting curly braces around tables
• Using wrong function names
• Putting table names in quotes

5. You have three monthly sales tables: SalesJan, SalesFeb, and SalesMar. Each has columns Product and Amount. You want a single table with all rows combined. Which Power Query formula correctly appends all three tables?

hard

A. Table.Combine(SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar)

B. Table.Combine({SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar})

C. Table.Append({SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar})

D. Append.Tables(SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct syntax for appending multiple tables

   Table.Combine takes a single argument: a list of tables inside curly braces.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   Table.Combine({SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar}) correctly uses Table.Combine({SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar}). Options B, C, and D use wrong syntax or function names.

3. Final Answer:

   Table.Combine({SalesJan, SalesFeb, SalesMar}) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use Table.Combine with list of tables [OK]

Hint: Use Table.Combine with curly braces for multiple tables [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing tables as separate arguments instead of list
• Using non-existent functions like Table.Append
• Forgetting curly braces