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MichaelRm's avatar
MichaelRm
Copper Contributor
Jan 16, 2024

Power Query - Self Referencing for Comments, but getting DataFormat.Error

Hi,

 

So I recently made a file following the instructions in this Link . Recently, whenever I refresh I always get the error "DataFomat.Error" and after opening the query, the error always shows up after "= Table.ExpandTableColumn" with the error saying "An error occurred in the ‘Transform File’ query. DataFormat.Error: External table is not in the expected format. Details: 4d1403fc-67ac-4180-8cdc-f6d019f3d6a3.XLS" or something similar. Can anyone help solve this?

excel
Formulas and Functions
power bi

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  • Lorenzo's avatar
    Lorenzo
    Silver Contributor
    Jan 17, 2024

    Hi MichaelRm 

     

    A DataFomat.Error in your scenario might be due to a DataSource file (your 4d1403fc-67ac-4180-8cdc-f6d019f3d6a3.XLS) generated by a system/application other than Excel

    A bunch of apps generate incomplete/wrong Excel files. Although they (usually) can be opened with Excel, the Power Query connector for Excel files may fail opening/decoding them

     

    Try to: Open your DataSourceFile in Excel > Save it > Close it > Refresh your query

    If you can refresh the query you know where the problem comes from. Otherwise if there's nothing top secret in your DataSourceFile post it their (+ the workbook with your query)

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