Table.RenameColumns

Table.RenameColumns is a Power Query M function that renames columns in a table according to a given list of old and new column names. The function returns a new table with the columns renamed, handling missing columns based on an optional parameter.

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

Syntax

Table.RenameColumns(
   table as table,
   renames as list,
   optional missingField as nullable number,
) as table

Argument	Attribute	Description
table
renames
missingField	optional	The MissingField.Type determines the function’s reaction to operations on missing columns. When omitted, it uses MissingField.Error and generates an error for missing columns. Alternatives include MissingField.UseNull, substituting null for missing columns, and MissingField.Ignore, which ignores missing columns.

Description

Table.RenameColumns applies renames of the form {old, new}. It renames columns in table as per renames list. Errors are raised for non-existent columns unless missingField specifies otherwise.

Examples

Replace the column name “CustomerNum” with “CustomerID” in the table.

// Output: Table.FromRecords( {[CustomerID = 1, Name = "Bob", Phone = "123-4567"]} )
Table.RenameColumns( 
    Table.FromRecords( {[CustomerNum = 1, Name = "Bob", Phone = "123-4567"]} ),
    {"CustomerNum", "CustomerID"}
 )

Replace the column name “CustomerNum” with “CustomerID” and “PhoneNum” with “Phone” in the table.

// Output: Table.FromRecords( {[CustomerID = 1, Name = "Bob", Phone = "123-4567"]} )
Table.RenameColumns( 
    Table.FromRecords( {[CustomerNum = 1, Name = "Bob", PhoneNum = "123-4567"]} ),
    {
        {"CustomerNum", "CustomerID"},
        {"PhoneNum", "Phone"}
    }
 )

Replace the column name “NewCol” with “NewColumn” in the table, and ignore if the column doesn’t exist.

// Output: Table.FromRecords( {[CustomerID = 1, Name = "Bob", Phone = "123-4567"]} )
Table.RenameColumns( 
    Table.FromRecords( {[CustomerID = 1, Name = "Bob", Phone = "123-4567"]} ),
    {"NewCol", "NewColumn"},
    MissingField.Ignore
 )

Related articles

Learn more about Table.RenameColumns in the following articles:

• Transform Column Names in Bulk in Power Query
  This post provides techniques for efficiently renaming columns in bulk, covering both basic and advanced transformations to support your data cleaning process. » Read more
• Create Date Table with Dynamic Language in Power Query
  Want your Date Table in Multiple Languages? This post explains how to make your calendar dynamic to support any language or culture. » Read more

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