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Improve the Advanced Query Editor

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Taylor Clark on 13 Mar 2015 06:42:04

Add better static analysis, IntelliSense, and general formatting abilities (like allowing tabs) in the "Advanced" editor

Administrator on 13 Apr 2019 01:32:42

We're glad to let you know that this feature is now Generally Available. Please refer to the Power BI Desktop April release announcement for more details: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-desktop-april-2019-feature-summary/ Thanks for your feedback!

Comments (67)
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a3309361 99be-ea11-a812-000d3a8ddfb2 on 05 Jul 2020 22:42:04

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

I second this! Miguel, do you have any update to share with us? Thanks

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ab129b3c 03b9-4438-94e5-2ff72a94d166 on 05 Jul 2020 22:41:12

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

Any news on this improvement?

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839fa516 888e-4ebe-af8a-2e93712d68f8 on 05 Jul 2020 22:38:34

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

I second every comment above and want to add a request for better highlighting and selection with a mouse.
Who designed that feature. It feels like it is designed to specificly frustrate me when I am attempting to copy and paste any code. How did you make it so good at preventing me from selecting what I actually want???

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15a724ee 31f9-445b-b94c-c924237fb80e on 05 Jul 2020 22:35:00

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

Otherwise it is hard to read and write there.

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15a56ec5 a898-4a60-8d36-2614493658e6 on 05 Jul 2020 22:31:05

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

OMG. This is the best!!

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f524f06a b3bc-4a76-a6a2-ab0a85a34b97 on 05 Jul 2020 22:29:34

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

Thank you Miguel!

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7586d934 9124-4213-bb98-ac151dca45ed on 05 Jul 2020 22:26:38

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

And give the user the ability to change the font size!

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f041ca27 b955-47ad-9967-a42c9b9bf041 on 05 Jul 2020 22:21:48

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

I can but join the clamour asking for an improved editor. Given that languages such as Python have managed to be integrated with Visual Studio, bringing all the benefits such as support for intellisense, could that not be the fist step?

We would then use this "advanced" editor [which it isn't] merely as the means of pasting code developed elsewhere, which we all do now but using VS rather than Notepad++ which seems to be the frontrunner at present.

The long-term aim has to be intellisense etc native to the product but VS integration would be a good first step along that road

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c51f6912 b1c5-4309-9899-829e0c2a508c on 05 Jul 2020 22:20:02

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

Best idea ever, Intellisense for Excel Power Query and Power BI Desktop

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38d2f369 2282-4a85-8865-c89694ce9111 on 05 Jul 2020 22:19:52

RE: Improve the Advanced Query Editor

In the beginning, I was quite puzzled that: 1) The "Advanced Editor" is not even a basic editor for M scripting (e.g. far less capable than Notepad V1.0)
2) M has about double the functions of Excel, yet there's no Intellisense
3) In recent times, proper case for default steps names was replaced with spaced names that end up with ugly and error prone characters in the resulting script.

Finally, it occurred to me that the "advanced" editor was designed as a way of viewing recorded steps and making light modifications. It was never designed to do anything substantial, like creating scripts from scratch, or making substantial modifications to recorded scripts.

I made my peace with the editor a long time ago when it became clear that it was not going to get better anytime soon (that was about two years ago, and it turned out to be true).

I get the syntax highlighting, function intellisense and all of the editing functionality that I need in NotePad++. The advanced editor is merely used to paste scripts created in NotePad++