M Query Guide

Functions

M Duration Functions

Duration Functions

M duration functions like Duration.Days compute intervals.

Introduction to M Duration Functions

In M, the language used by Power Query, duration functions are essential for handling intervals of time. These functions allow you to compute and manipulate time durations, which can be crucial for data transformations that involve time-based calculations.

Understanding Duration Data Type

The duration data type in M represents a length of time. It is expressed in terms of days, hours, minutes, and seconds. For example, a duration of #duration(1, 2, 30, 0) represents 1 day, 2 hours, 30 minutes, and 0 seconds.

Durations can be positive or negative, which allows them to represent time intervals before or after a specific point in time.

Common M Duration Functions

M provides several functions to work with durations. Some of the most commonly used functions include:

  • Duration.Days: Returns the number of whole days in a duration.
  • Duration.Hours: Returns the number of whole hours in a duration.
  • Duration.Minutes: Returns the number of whole minutes in a duration.
  • Duration.Seconds: Returns the number of whole seconds in a duration.

Using Duration.Days Function

The Duration.Days function extracts the day component from a duration. This function is useful when you need to calculate the number of days within a specific duration.

Practical Example: Total Duration Calculation

Consider a scenario where you need to calculate the total duration of an event. You can utilize M duration functions to decompose a duration into its components and perform necessary calculations.

Conclusion

Understanding and utilizing M duration functions is crucial for effective time-based data manipulation in Power Query. By mastering these functions, you can perform a wide range of time calculations, enhancing your data transformation capabilities.

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