Power Query – Data Preparation Without Macros in Microsoft 365

Learn how to efficiently prepare your Excel data with Power Query – no macros or programming required

Discover how to revolutionize your data preparation workflows in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365) with Power Query – completely without macros or programming.

In this 1‑day special seminar, you will learn how to efficiently import, consolidate, and clean external data sources. With just a few clicks, you can merge multiple files from different sources, automate recurring tasks, and save valuable time in your daily work.

Learn how to prepare complex datasets for analysis, avoid sources of error, and create transparency in your Excel processes. Power Query is fully integrated into Microsoft Excel 365 and offers a powerful yet easy-to-use environment for data preparation, transformation, and automation.

Through practical, hands-on exercises, you will learn step by step how to combine data from text files, Excel sheets, databases, and web sources and how to calculate, filter, and transform data without any programming. This allows you to maintain full control of your data at all times—fast, clean, and efficient.

Your Benefits at a Glance

• Efficient data preparation without macros or VBA
• Automated processes for recurring data imports and cleaning
• Practical exercises with examples from Controlling & Reporting
• Time savings through optimized data flows in Microsoft 365
• Direct applicability thanks to experienced IT trainers
• Hybrid workshop: attend on-site or live online

Seminar Contents

Introduction & Fundamentals

• Overview of Power Query in Microsoft 365
• Understanding the “power” behind Power Query
• Getting to know the interface and navigation

Data Import & Preparation

• Importing data from text files, Excel, or databases
• Reviewing and adjusting import steps
• Removing unnecessary columns, assigning correct data types
• Reducing and optimizing data volume before import

Data Consolidation & Queries

• Automatically combining multiple files from a folder
• Merging data from different Excel worksheets
• Accessing database systems and public web data
• Merging, duplicating, and modifying multiple queries

Data Transformation & Calculation

• Creating calculated columns and custom formulas
• Linking data without VLOOKUP
• Changing data structures (pivoting / unpivoting)
• Understanding the M formula language in the advanced editor
• Creating custom functions and parameters in M

Prerequisites

Solid knowledge of Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365) is recommended.
Participants should be familiar with standard functions, formulas, and data handling in Excel. No programming skills are required.

Target Audience

This seminar is designed for professionals who regularly work with large data volumes in Excel and want to prepare them more efficiently—especially:

• Employees in Controlling, Finance, Management, and commercial departments
• Data analysts, reporting specialists, and BI users
• Users who want to automate extensive Excel data processing and speed up recurring tasks