{"id":5193,"date":"2016-11-11T01:24:06","date_gmt":"2016-11-11T00:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/?p=5193"},"modified":"2023-11-30T21:16:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:16:49","slug":"inventory-files-using-power-query","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/inventory-files-using-power-query\/","title":{"rendered":"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/installing-power-query-excel-2010\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Power Query<\/a> lets you perform a series of steps to transform your Excel data.<\/p>\n<p>One of the possible steps that surprised me was that I could <strong>list out the files in my computer!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is useful if you want to do some analysis on your file list (i.e. finding a file, checking which files have the biggest size to clear up space).<\/p>\n<div class=\"after-post-box\">\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XFnnOH6fK_g?rel=0 \" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MyExcelOnlinecomtutorials?sub_confirmation=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignmiddle wp-image-111468 size-full\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/1.yt_.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"line-two\"><a class=\"IRPP_minimalist icon-download button small\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory.xlsx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-leadbox=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory.xlsx\" data-leadbox-id=\"147284833f72a2:12f08263ab46dc\"><span class=\"ctaText px-3 text-capitalize\"> download excel workbook <i class=\"fa fa-download\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"postTitle px-3\">Inventory.xlsx<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s go through the steps in detail:<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>STEP 1<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0Go to <strong><em>Data &gt; New Query\u00a0&gt; From File &gt; From Folder<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(In Excel 2010 &amp; 2013 you need to go to <strong>Power Query &gt; From File &gt; From Folder<\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-01.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-01.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"451\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-01.png 451w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-01-264x300.png 264w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">STEP 2:<\/span> <\/strong>Type in the path you want to list the files from. \u00a0You can also Browse for the folder. \u00a0Click <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-02.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5203\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-02.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"699\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-02.png 699w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-02-300x107.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">STEP 3:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>This will give you a\u00a0preview the file list. \u00a0Click\u00a0<strong>Edit<\/strong>\u00a0to examine it more inside the Power Query editor.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-03.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5204\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-03.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"599\" height=\"378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-03.png 599w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-03-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"line-height: 1.5;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">STEP 4:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>You are now inside the Power Query Window.<\/p>\n<p>You can add more information into your Table by clicking the\u00a0Icon beside\u00a0<strong>Attributes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05-1.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05-1.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"365\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05-1.png 365w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05-1-217x300.png 217w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 365px) 100vw, 365px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For example we want to include the Size column. \u00a0<strong>Uncheck\u00a0<\/strong><strong>(Select All Columns)\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>check Size<\/strong>. \u00a0Click\u00a0<strong>OK.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5206\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"402\" height=\"511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05.png 402w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-05-236x300.png 236w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The size column is now shown.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5207\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-06.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"982\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-06.png 982w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-06-300x51.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-06-768x131.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>STEP 5: <\/strong><\/span>Click <strong>Close &amp; Load<\/strong> from the <strong>Home<\/strong> tab and this will automatically open up a brand new worksheet in your Excel workbook with the new\u00a0data.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-07.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-07.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"285\" height=\"145\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You now have your spanking new file list!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-08.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-08.png\" alt=\"Inventory Your Files Using Power Query\" width=\"1218\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-08.png 1218w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-08-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-08-1024x291.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Inventory-08-768x218.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1218px) 100vw, 1218px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>HELPFUL RESOURCE:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/myexcelonline.thinkific.com\/courses\/the-ultimate-excel-power-query-data-cleansing-online-course\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Create Pivot Columns Using Power Query\"  class=\"alignnone wp-image-4477 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/380x230.jpg\" alt=\"Create Pivot Columns Using Power Query\" width=\"380\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/380x230.jpg 380w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/380x230-300x182.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Power Query lets you perform a series of steps to transform your Excel data. One of the possible steps that surprised me was that I could list out the files in my computer!\u00a0 This is useful if you want to do some analysis on your file list (i.e. finding a file, checking which files have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[121,120],"tags":[206,205,117],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5193"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}