Gist 8abd0d0a72b91b4d72ce79ac9d8ab6c4

Power Query HexViewer

The Power Query HexViewer displays the raw binary contents of a local text file as a structured hex dump, showing each byte’s address, offset, and hexadecimal value in a table. It reads the file `gitignore_global.txt` using Power Query’s `File.Contents` and `BinaryFormat.List`, then transforms the byte stream with `List.Transform` and `List.Positions` to compute address and offset columns. The final output uses the `#table` constructor to render the parsed data, with `Binary.ToText` formatting each byte as uppercase hex. The visualization relies solely on Power Query’s M language functions, not external JavaScript libraries.

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Gist 10da47bd381918d303c5db903afe5886

This example demonstrates how to generate all non-empty combinations of a set of strings using bitmask arithmetic. It shows three separate Power Query (M) implementations, each taking a hardcoded list like {"B", "F", "T"} and producing every possible subset as concatenated text. The primary approach uses `Number.BitwiseAnd` and `Number.Power` to iterate through binary masks, while `List.Transform`, `List.Select`, and `List.Positions` filter and combine elements. A recursive alternative using `@fnCombinations` is also included. The visualizations highlight different algorithmic strategies—iterative bitwise versus recursive decomposition—for the same combinatorial output, with no external libraries beyond Power Query’s built-in list functions.

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Gist a25bf43fbc2ada9a1cc29f874f509134

This example shows a Power Query custom function that extracts list items by their numeric positions, returning a new list with only the selected elements. The function `List.SelectPositions` takes a source list and a list of indices, with an optional parameter to shift the starting index from zero-based to one-based numbering. It uses `List.Transform` with a buffer for performance, applying `_{_ + StartPosition}?` to safely handle out-of-range positions by returning null. The implementation relies on the standard Power Query `List` and `Value` APIs, including `Value.ReplaceType` and `Value.ReplaceMetadata` to attach documentation and usage examples.

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Converting a Power BI tabular connection string to Binary

This example demonstrates a Power Query (M) function that converts a Power BI tabular connection string into a binary format. It shows how to extract and decode the embedded Mashup component from the semicolon-delimited string. The function first splits the connection string using `Splitter.SplitTextByDelimiter`, isolates the last segment, and removes the "Mashup=" prefix. It then uses `Binary.FromText` to decode the remaining Base64-encoded text into binary data. The rendering relies entirely on the M language’s standard library, with no external libraries. This approach is useful for scenarios where a connection string’s embedded model needs to be accessed programmatically.

DEC2BIN or HEX2BIN in Power Query M

This example demonstrates a Power Query M function that converts a decimal number to its binary string representation, implementing the equivalent of Excel’s DEC2BIN and HEX2BIN operations. The function, `Number.DEC2BIN`, takes a numeric input and uses `List.Generate` to iteratively extract bits via `Number.BitwiseAnd` and `Number.BitwiseShiftRight`. Each iteration prepends the least significant bit to an accumulating string, while the loop continues until the remainder becomes zero. The code relies on M’s native `Number.ToText` for bit conversion and explicitly shows the bitwise arithmetic and list-generation logic, with no external libraries or data sources involved.

UnZip in Power Query M

This example demonstrates a custom implementation of the UnZip algorithm entirely in Power Query M, enabling direct extraction of compressed ZIP file contents without external dependencies. It shows how binary data can be parsed and decompressed within Power BI’s data transformation environment. The code defines a binary format using `BinaryFormat.Record` to parse ZIP file headers, including signatures, compression flags, and sizes, then applies `BinaryFormat.Transform` with `Compression.Deflate` to decompress individual file entries. The result is a table of filenames and their uncompressed contents, derived from a gist by Hugoberry, showcasing low-level binary handling and list transformations in M.

PowerQuery hexview

The example visualizes a hexadecimal dump of a file’s raw bytes as a grid, where each cell represents one byte’s value in uppercase hex notation. The PowerQuery code reads the file `gitignore_global.txt` using `File.Contents` and `BinaryFormat.List`, then maps each byte to its relative and offset position within the file. Non-printable characters are replaced with dots, while printable ones display as hex pairs. The resulting table is expanded via `Table.ExpandRecordColumn`, producing a row per byte with columns for the byte value, its modulo-16 column, and the offset base—offering a compact, text-based visual breakdown of binary content without external charting libraries.

Replicating R unz function in Power Query. Based on http://sql10.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/reading-zip-files-in-powerquery-m.html

This example demonstrates how to read a specific file from a ZIP archive directly in Power Query using a custom M function. It shows the binary-parsing logic that replicates R’s `unz` utility by manually decoding the ZIP container format. The code defines binary readers via `BinaryFormat` components, including `UnsignedInteger32` and `UnsignedInteger16` for headers, and uses `Binary.Decompress` with `Compression.Deflate` to inflate the stored file data. A `BinaryFormat.List` iterator scans the archive for the `PKZIP` signature (`0x04034B50`) to locate and extract the requested file by name. The function returns the uncompressed binary content for the matching entry.