Tidying Your Data Desk Before Studying - Making Power Query Lightning Fast!
Imagine trying to study for your biggest test ever, but your desk is covered with old candy wrappers, 47 different notebooks, toys from when you were 5, and that sandwich you forgot about last week! 🤢
That's exactly what happens with M Language and Power Query when we don't optimize our code! Your computer is trying to work with messy, disorganized instructions that make everything S-L-O-W.
M Language performance optimization is like being the world's best desk organizer - but instead of organizing pencils and papers, we're organizing data transformations to make them run at lightning speed! ⚡
M Language is the super-smart programming language that powers Microsoft Power Query - think of it as the magic spell book that transforms messy data into beautiful, organized information!
M Language Performance Optimization is the art of writing M code that works faster, uses less computer memory, and processes data more efficiently - just like organizing your study materials so you can find everything instantly!
When we optimize M Language code, we're essentially teaching our computer to work smarter, not harder. Instead of checking every single piece of data one by one (like reading every book in the library to find one fact), we give it shortcuts and better strategies!
Picture two students getting ready for the same test:
That's the difference between optimized and unoptimized M Language code! The organized student (optimized code) finishes 4x faster because everything has a perfect place and purpose.
Let's break down the essential tools in our M Language optimization toolkit! Think of these as the different organizing strategies for your study desk:
Like asking your teacher to pre-sort worksheets!
Instead of bringing ALL the worksheets to your desk and then sorting them, you ask the teacher to only give you the math worksheets you need.
Like only keeping the textbooks you're actually using!
Why have 15 textbooks on your desk when you only need 3 for today's homework? Remove unused columns early!
Like sorting your candy before you start eating!
Filter out the data you don't need as early as possible - like picking out only chocolate candies before diving in!
Like using the right size containers!
Don't use a giant moving box to store one pencil - use the right data type for each column!
Let's see some real M Language optimization in action! It's like watching a messy room transform into a perfectly organized space! ✨
// DON'T DO THIS - It's like studying with all your toys on the desk!
let
// Step 0: Load your Excel table
Source = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name="SalesData"]}[Content],
// Step 1: Add calculations BEFORE cleaning or filtering (inefficient!)
AddedColumns = Table.AddColumn(
Source,
"TotalSales",
each [Quantity] * [Price]
),
// Step 2: Filter rows AFTER calculations (slower)
FilteredRows = Table.SelectRows(
AddedColumns,
each [Date] >= #date(2024, 1, 1)
),
// Step 3: Remove unneeded columns LATE (wasted processing)
RemovedColumns = Table.RemoveColumns(
FilteredRows,
{"UnneededColumn1", "UnneededColumn2"}
),
// Step 4: Change types LAST (after most work is already done)
ChangedTypes = Table.TransformColumnTypes(
RemovedColumns,
{{"TotalSales", type number}}
)
in
ChangedTypes
// DO THIS - Clean, organized, and lightning fast!
let
// Step 0: Load your Excel table
Source = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name="SalesData"]}[Content],
// Step 1: Remove unused columns FIRST (clear the clutter!)
RemovedColumns = Table.SelectColumns(
Source,
{"Date", "Quantity", "Price"}
),
// Step 2: Set proper data types EARLY (organize your tools!)
ChangedTypes = Table.TransformColumnTypes(
RemovedColumns,
{
{"Date", type date},
{"Quantity", Int64.Type},
{"Price", type number}
}
),
// Step 3: Filter early (sort before you work!)
FilteredRows = Table.SelectRows(
ChangedTypes,
each [Date] >= #date(2024, 1, 1)
),
// Step 4: Add calculations LAST (work on clean data!)
AddedColumns = Table.AddColumn(
FilteredRows,
"TotalSales",
each [Quantity] * [Price],
type number
)
in
AddedColumns
Let's imagine you're helping your school librarian organize a massive database of 50,000 books! 📚
Find all science fiction books published after 2020, calculate their average rating, but only for books that are currently available (not checked out).
Time: 5 minutes ⏰ (Computer is working really hard!)
Time: 10 seconds ⏰ (Computer barely breaks a sweat!)
| Approach | Processing Time | Memory Used | Computer Happiness | Your Happiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ❌ Unoptimized | 5 minutes | 500 MB | 😫 Stressed | 😴 Bored waiting |
| ✅ Optimized | 10 seconds | 15 MB | 😎 Relaxed | 🎉 Amazed! |
Think about the difference between riding a bike with flat tires versus a perfectly tuned racing bike! 🚴♀️
Imagine two pizza delivery companies:
Which pizza would you order? That's the difference between optimized and unoptimized M Language code!
Ready to become a data desk organization master? Here's your step-by-step journey from messy to magnificent! 🌟
"A clean desk leads to a clear mind, and clean M Language code leads to lightning-fast data processing!"
Every time you write M Language code, imagine you're organizing your study space. Ask yourself: "Am I working smart, or am I making my computer dig through unnecessary clutter?"
Always test your optimizations! Just like you wouldn't submit homework without checking your answers, always measure your M Language performance before and after optimization. Use the built-in diagnostics in Power Query to see the magic happen! ⚡
You now have the foundation to transform slow, clunky M Language code into lightning-fast data processing machines! Remember, every expert was once a beginner, and every optimization journey starts with a single step.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
Created with ❤️ by Nishant Chandravanshi
Making complex data concepts simple, fun, and accessible for everyone!