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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 16h

Final takeaway: Take the output of #PowerQuery, feed it back into itself, and build a self-growing forecast history system—just make sure to remove duplicates before appending. If you work with forecasts, budgets, or projections that change over time, this is a simple but powerful pattern. 👍

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 29/09/2026

A quirk like this can eat hours when you're on your own. In the AKAs, you get the reason behind it, so you can fix it with confidence and move on. Sign up at skw-t.com/aka, or get access for free with either our #Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) or #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) Academies.

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Ask Ken Anything

Get access to an expert who will help you build real world solutions. The Ask Ken Anything (AKA) sessions are live, interactive coaching calls that are held twice each month. They’re designed to give…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 29/09/2026

💡Ken's habit is simple: the first step in any debugging session is clicking Refresh Preview, then checking the loaded output before deciding something is broken. 🧭Takeaway: Refresh the preview before you trust what the Query Editor is showing you. #DataPreparation #BusinessIntelligence

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 29/09/2026

#PowerQuery caches preview values inside the file, so the Query Editor and hover cards can show stale results even after Refresh All has loaded fresh data to the worksheet. 🔄 It's even more likely if background data previews have been turned off to speed up large workbooks.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 29/09/2026

An recent AKA attendee described a puzzling issue: queries driven by dates in worksheet cells kept showing old values after a refresh. Only clicking Refresh Preview, or saving, closing and reopening the file, seemed to fix it. 🤔 @excelguru.ca's diagnosis? The data probably wasn't wrong at all. 🧵

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/09/2026

Some good info on new improvements that weren't mentioned on the official Power BI blog.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/09/2026

"First of all the “Get Data” button has been renamed “Power Query”..." 🤯

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Reposted by Skillwave Training

Curtis Frye @curtisfrye.com · 28/09/2026

Not all data you import into Excel uses commas to separate values. In this week's Techsoc movie, I'll show you how to use the new IMPORTTEXT function to bring in external data stored as text into Excel regardless of the separator character. youtu.be/63hfQT3yPDo

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Import text data into Excel using a formula

YouTube video by Curt Frye

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/09/2026

The more you learn, the more you earn! 🧠 Kickstart your #DataAnalytics career with our #Excel and #PowerBI training. Our expert trainers will teach you how to get the most from your data, automate processes, and make better business decisions. 💻View our course catalog at skillwave.training/learn/

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 25/09/2026

Transform your #DataAnalysis skills and kickstart your career like Dillon has! 👑 Join our #PowerQuery Academy and reap the rewards of efficient data handling in #Excel and #PowerBI. 💪 Enroll today at skw-t.com/pqa

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 24/09/2026

That's what the AKA is for: real problems from your own files, worked through live with someone who will tell you honestly what works and what doesn't. Our #Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) and #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) Academies include access, or join just the AKAs at skw-t.com/aka

skw-t.com

Excel Fundamentals Academy

In the Excel Fundamentals Academy, you’ll learn all the core skills for the Excel analyst, beginning with a refresher on Excel formulas and functions (including the daunting VLOOKUP), and then moving…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 24/09/2026

Or you can try driving the chart from #DynamicArrays so it works off worksheet formulas instead of a #PivotTable. 🧭Takeaway: If a PivotChart keeps breaking on refresh, change the foundation instead of fighting the formatting.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 24/09/2026

Unfortunately , PivotCharts built on the #DataModel are notoriously fragile when a refresh adds new series, because the chart loses track of what it's supposed to format. 😢 Ken offered practical workarounds: You can ayer separate combo and line charts (one with a transparent background) together, OR

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 24/09/2026

In last week’s ‘Ask Ken Anything’ (AKA) session, one of our students asked about a frustrating #DataVisualization problem: a carefully formatted combo #PivotChart looked perfect until new forecast data was added. One refresh later, the formatting was gone. 😠 @excelguru.ca reproduced the issue live.🧵

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 23/09/2026

Here, @excelguru.ca explores a #PowerQuery trick to fix non-aligned data. It all started with a PDF import where data shifted into different columns on different rows.👎 It all ended with success, and a recipe to solve this challenge for others! 👍 www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC_g... #Excel #PowerBI

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Shift non-aligned Columns in Power Query - Monkey Shorts Episode 045

In this week's episode of Monkey Shorts, Ken explores a recipe to fix non-aligned data issues. It all started with a PDF import where data shifted into different columns on different rows. It all…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 23/09/2026

These are some really good things to think about when building #PowerBI reports!

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 22/09/2026

📩A new edition of our newsletter has just been sent, so time to check your inbox if you're a subscriber! If not, sign up at skw-t.com/news for our expert content, what's new in #Excel and #PowerBI, info on courses, events, specials, and more! Plus, you'll get our free #PowerQuer eBook. 🤓

News from the Data Monkey
Brought to you by Excelguru and Skillwave
(Image of a cyborg monkey in a superhero style crouch)
September 22, 2026
In This Issue:
- From the AKA Sessions
- New video blog on unpivoting data with Power Query
- What's New in Power BI
- Latest Meet-up Recording and Next Event Information
- Upcoming Courses and Conferences
- Monkey Tools Updates
- Available Training Options
Ken is feeling settled into the new place, and he and the rest of the team are enjoying the last bit of sunny weather before we head into typical "Wet Coast" rains that come with the fall and winter. The countdown is on for Bulgaria Excel Days in October, where Ken is looking forward to connecting with friends both new and old in Sofia. There are still a few spots left for his LIVE Self Service BI Boot Camp - more details on the course can be found below in the Upcoming Courses & Events section. With it being just a month away, now's your chance to join him for in-person training!

(M)agic Tricks for Data Wizards
(Image of a laptop with a magic wand on the screen and wizard hat draped over the top right corner)
Tips & Tricks for Power Query in Excel & Power BI
(Microsoft Excel and Power BI icons)
Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 18/09/2026

Good reminder - Check 👏 Your 👏 Data 👏

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 18/09/2026

Subscribing to the "Ask Ken Anything" sessions is like having a personal consultant on call for just a fraction of the cost! ☎️ Join @excelguru.ca for his live, interactive support calls held twice each month for personalized help with #Excel, #PowerQuery, #DAX and more. Sign up at skw-t.com/aka

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 17/09/2026

Ever discovered errors in your data after unpivoting? 😬 Should you deal with them before you unpivot, or after? Can you remove all errors and still preserve a list of the records which contained errors? 😉 Join @excelguru.ca to find out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJaX... #PowerQuery #Excel #PowerBI

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UnPivoting Error Values in Power Query - Monkey Shorts Episode 044

Have you ever discovered errors in your data after unpivoting? Should you deal with them before you unpivot, or after? Can you remove all errors and still preserve a list of the records which…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 16/09/2026

Do you know the difference between shaping and modeling your data? You need to do both to build a robust #PowerBI report. 💡 In this article, Matt Allington explains the differences and how they are used during the 4 phases of a #SelfServiceBI Project: exceleratorbi.com.au/shaping-mode...

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 15/09/2026

This is the most popular of @excelguru.ca's video blogs on our YouTube channel, so we wanted to reshare it. He tackles a real-world question from a #SelfServiceBI Academy student: how do you reliably identify price changes over time using #PowerQuery? 🤔 Ken explores 3 methods: youtu.be/vu0HbLJisO4

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Tracking Product Price Changes Using Power Query - Which Method Works Best?

In this video, Ken Puls tackles a real-world question from a Self Service BI Academy student in one of the Ask Ken Anything sessions. The question is: how do you reliably identify price changes over…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 14/09/2026

We LOVE hearing from happy students! 😁 Our #DataVisualization course will help you present data in a clear, engaging, and meaningful way. Master the art of #DataStorytelling and gain all the fundamental skills to create better, more effective charts in #Excel and #PowerBI. Go to skw-t.com/dataviz

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 11/09/2026

Save yourself hours of time and effort when preparing your data in #Excel or #PowerBI with #PowerQuery. 😎 You'll master #DataCleaning and transformation so you can automate your #BusinessIntelligence, and spend more time exploring #DataInsights. 👍Sign up for our FREE intro course: skw-t.com/pqfun

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 10/09/2026

By default, when you unpivot a set of data in #PowerQuery, all null records are suppressed. But what if you need them in your unpivoted data set? 🙉 In this Monkey Shorts, @excelguru.ca shows 2 methods of doing so and discusses the impacts of each: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j_q... #Excel #PowerBI

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Keep null Values During UnPivot Operations - Monkey Shorts Episode 043

By default, when you unpivot a set of data in Power Query, all null records are suppressed. But what if you need them in your unpivoted data set? In this week's episode of Monkey Shorts, Ken shows…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 09/09/2026

🧭Takeaway: A repeatable bug report is worth ten frustrated support tickets. It' a great example of the kind of troubleshooting our community brings to the AKAs. They're one of the great features included in our #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) and Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) Academies.

skw-t.com

Self Service BI Academy

Prepare to change your company's reporting game forever! In the Self Service BI Academy, Ken Puls will teach you how to use Excel, Power Query, and Power BI together to build robust Self Service BI…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 09/09/2026

@excelguru.ca's lesson was as valuable as the diagnosis: a clear, repeatable set of steps is what turns a vague bug report into something Microsoft's team can actually act on. Reproducibility carries real weight when you're trying to get attention on an issue. (Yes, we reported it to Microsoft! 😉)

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 09/09/2026

Opening a file while the preview window was active, especially switching between different Excel file formats, was quietly launching an extra hidden instance of Excel behind the scenes, which then collided with the file the user was already working in. 🐛 #MicrosoftBug #FilePreview

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 09/09/2026

One of our 'Ask Ken Anything' (AKA) participants wanted to know why #Excel kept popping up a confusing "file already in use" error. 😕 After weeks of digging, they actually nailed down exactly how to reproduce it. The culprit turned out to be the preview pane in #FileExplorer. 🧵

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Curtis Frye @curtisfrye.com · 08/09/2026

Anyone looking to build their skill set can benefit from freely available textbooks. Even better if they're peer reviewed and ready for adoption. In this week's Techsoc video, I recommend the @openstax.org collection. youtu.be/-Z6Mp4w_6Ys

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Resources: OpenStax from Rice University

I offer my YouTube videos for free, but they are far from the only resource available at no cost. In this video, I’ll start my review of free resources with OpenStax, from Rice University. The web…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 08/09/2026

Hey subscribers, time to check your inbox as the newsletter has been sent! 📫 If you'd like to keep on top of what's new in #Excel and #PowerBI, the latest expert content, and info on our courses, events and specials, join our mailing list at skw-t.com/news. Plus, get a free #PowerQuery eBook.📗

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 07/09/2026

Here, @excelguru.ca shows how Monkey Tools' Parameter Table and Function feature automatically adds the fnGetParameter() function and required parameter table setup into your #Excel workbook, making your #PowerQuery solutions easier to move, update, and maintain: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0lV...

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Using Dynamic Parameters Easily: fnGetParameter() function and Monkey Tools

In this video, Ken shows how the Parameter Table and Function feature in Monkey Tools can automatically add the fnGetParameter() function and the required parameter table setup into your Excel…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 04/09/2026

Woot woot! Another 5 ⭐ for our flagship course, #PowerQuery Academy! We'll help you unlock the true power of your data in #Excel and #PowerBI! Say goodbye to hours of manual #DataManipulation and hello to quick #DataInsights and informed decisions. Join now and make data work for you: skw-t.com/pqa

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 03/09/2026

While #PowerQuery has a super easy way to merge columns, there is no easy-to-use UI command to merge multiple rows into a single cell. In this Monkey Shorts with @excelguru.ca, you'll see how we can leverage a little bit of M code to make it happen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8X9... #Excel #PowerBI

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Merging Multiple Rows to a Single Cell - Monkey Shorts Episode 042

While Power Query has a super easy way to merge columns, there is no easy-to-use user-interface command which allows you to merge multiple rows into a single cell. In this week's episode of Monkey…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 02/09/2026

Some thoughts from @excelguru.ca on how to use #ArtifcialIntelligence safely and successfully. 🔑 His key takeaway? The quality of the output is directly related to the human user’s skill level and command of the underlying technology. In the age of AI, education is MORE important, not less.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 01/09/2026

This is exactly the kind of "I tried three things and none of them worked" problem our AKA sessions are built for. Sign up for them at skw-t.com/aka, or get access for free with either our #Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) or #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) Academies.

skw-t.com

Ask Ken Anything

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 01/09/2026

It may not have been the prettiest solution, but it solved the real problem: hit refresh, and the report just updates. 🧭Takeaway: The messy solution that actually works beats the elegant one that doesn't.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 01/09/2026

Calculated columns return stale values that do not get dynamically computed as filter context changes. The eventual fix involved two synced PivotTables and a dynamic array HSTACK formula to combine them into one clean chart source data range. 🤝

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 01/09/2026

@excelguru.a wrestled with this before the session, and walked through his failed attempts, because seeing what doesn't work can be as valuable as seeing what does. While the #DAX could be written to return blanks for the unneeded periods, those columns arn't suppressed if another column has values.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 01/09/2026

During the last AKA call, an attendee brought a stubborn #PowerPivot problem: how do you show a single “Total Units” column in your #PivotTable, but show forecasts monthly without either duplicating a DAX measure every single month, or ending up with a wall of blank columns that have to be hidden? 🧵

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 31/08/2026

Want the very best in #BusinessIntelligence training? The All Access Pass gives you access to all of our on-demand, video-based courses, including anything new launched during the year, PLUS live coaching and support with an expert. 🖥️ Get the pass at skw-t.com/allaccess #Excel #PowerBI #PowerQuery

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/08/2026

Questions like this, the kind that only show up once real-world data gets involved, are why we keep running AKA sessions. Sign up for them at skw-t.com/aka, or get access for free with either our Excel Fundamentals (skw-t.com/excelfun) or #SelfServiceBI (skw-t.com/ssbi) Academies.

skw-t.com

Ask Ken Anything

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/08/2026

It is a small, sneaky bug with a big lesson: consistency in naming conventions saves hours of confused debugging down the road, especially once a tool leaves your own machine. 🧭Takeaway: The bug you can't see is usually the one your brain is auto-correcting for you. #Excel #PowerBI #DataPreparation

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/08/2026

The fix was not to loosen the filter to work around it, but to rebuild it cleanly against the correct folder so the logic could not be fooled again as new folders get added. A great trick is to just convert the folder column to lower case before filtering, removing the case sensitivity all together.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/08/2026

Power Query is case-sensitive. 🔍 A target folder named slightly differently (‘Source Data’ vs ‘Source data’) is something the human eye barely notices, but will make the filter fail. Adjusting the logic to something like “folder does not equal null” could cause other issues if new folder were added.

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 28/08/2026

A question came up in our recent AKA session about a tool built to automatically pull files from a folder for a client project using #PowerQuery. It worked perfectly on the developer's own machine, but broke the moment it l nded on the client's. 😧 @excelguru.ca walked through the likely culprit.🧵

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 27/08/2026

DYK that when merging columns in #PowerQuery, the behaviour is different depending on whether you trigger the command from the Transform or Add column tabs? 🤯 Here, @excelguru.ca explores why adding a new column may be a better option: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8ym... #Excel #PowerBI

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Merging Columns with Power Query - Monkey Shorts Episode 041

Did you know that when merging columns in Power Query, the behaviour is different depending on whether you trigger the command from the Transform or Add column tabs? (And no, we're not talking about…

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Skillwave Training @skillwave.training · 27/08/2026

We're curious how North America compares. Our team is based in Canada and we suspect that US and Mexican Fanta have more sugar, but who knows... 🥤

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