Binary.View

Binary.View is a Power Query M function that returns a custom view of a binary value, allowing you to override the default behavior of certain operations. The function is useful for implementing folding in data sources and returns a view of the binary value.

Compatible with: Power BI Service Power BI Desktop Excel Microsoft 365

Syntax

Binary.View(
   binary as nullable binary,
   handlers as record,
) as binary

Description

Returns a view of binary where the functions specified in handlers are used in lieu of the default behavior of an operation when the operation is applied to the view.

If binary is provided, all handler functions are optional. If binary isn’t provided, the GetStream handler function is required. If a handler function isn’t specified for an operation, the default behavior of the operation is applied to binary instead (except in the case of GetExpression).

Handler functions must return a value that is semantically equivalent to the result of applying the operation against binary (or the resulting view in the case of GetExpression).

If a handler function raises an error, the default behavior of the operation is applied to the view.

Binary.View can be used to implement folding to a data source – the translation of M queries into source-specific operations (for example, to download a section of a file).

Refer to the published Power Query custom connector documentation for a more complete description of Binary.View.

Examples

Create a basic view that doesn’t require accessing the data in order to determine the length.

// Output: Text.ToBinary( "hello world!" )
Binary.View( 
    null,
    [
        GetLength = () => 12,
        GetStream = () => Text.ToBinary( "hello world!" )
    ]
 )

Related functions

Other functions related to Binary.View are:

• Binary.ViewError
• Binary.ViewFunction

Contribute » | Contributors: Rick de Groot
Microsoft documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/binary-view