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Power BIbi_tool~5 mins

Splitting and merging columns in Power BI - Step-by-Step Guide

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Introduction
Splitting and merging columns helps you clean and organize your data. You can break one column into parts or combine several columns into one. This makes your reports clearer and easier to understand.
When you have a full name column and want to separate first and last names.
When you want to combine city and state columns into one address column.
When a date and time are in one column but you need them separate.
When you want to join product category and product name into a single column for simpler analysis.
When you need to split a column with values separated by commas into multiple columns.
Steps
Step 1: Open your Power BI Desktop file
- Power BI Desktop main window
Your report and data model load and are ready to edit
Step 2: Click
- Transform Data button on the Home tab
Power Query Editor opens showing your data tables
Step 3: Select the column you want to split or merge
- Data preview pane in Power Query Editor
The column is highlighted for editing
Step 4: To split, click Split Column
- Home tab or Transform tab in Power Query Editor
A menu appears with split options like By Delimiter or By Number of Characters
💡 Use 'By Delimiter' if your data has commas, spaces, or other separators
Step 5: Choose the split option and configure it
- Split Column dialog box
Preview shows how the column will split into new columns
Step 6: Click OK
- Split Column dialog box
The original column splits into multiple new columns in the data preview
Step 7: To merge columns, select multiple columns by holding Ctrl and clicking each
- Data preview pane in Power Query Editor
Selected columns are highlighted
Step 8: Click Merge Columns
- Transform tab in Power Query Editor
Merge Columns dialog box opens
Step 9: Choose a separator like space or comma, and enter a new column name
- Merge Columns dialog box
Preview shows the merged column format
Step 10: Click OK
- Merge Columns dialog box
Selected columns merge into one new column in the data preview
Step 11: Click Close & Apply
- Home tab in Power Query Editor
Changes save and data loads back into Power BI Desktop
Before vs After
Before
One column named FullName with values like 'John Smith' and 'Anna Lee'
After
Two columns named FirstName and LastName with values split as 'John' and 'Smith', 'Anna' and 'Lee'
Settings Reference
Split Column by Delimiter
📍 Transform tab > Split Column dropdown
Defines how the column is split based on a character separating values
Default: Comma
Split Column by Number of Characters
📍 Transform tab > Split Column dropdown
Splits the column after a set number of characters
Default: Once
Merge Columns Separator
📍 Transform tab > Merge Columns dialog
Sets the character placed between merged column values
Default: None
New Column Name
📍 Merge Columns dialog
Names the new column created after merging
Default: Merged
Common Mistakes
Splitting a column without choosing the correct delimiter
The data splits incorrectly or not at all if the delimiter does not match the data
Check your data for the exact separator and select that delimiter in the split options
Merging columns without a separator
Values join together without space or punctuation, making them hard to read
Always choose a separator like space or comma when merging columns
Summary
Splitting columns breaks one column into parts based on delimiters or character count.
Merging columns combines multiple columns into one with a chosen separator.
Use Power Query Editor's Transform tab to perform these actions easily.