How to Concatenate in Power BI

To concatenate in Power BI, follow these easy steps: 

1. Select the columns you want to combine.
2. Go to the “Add Column” tab and choose “Custom Column.”
3. Name your new column.
4. Enter the formula using the CONCATENATE function and references to your chosen columns.
5. Click “OK” to create your new column. 

Concatenation is a fundamental skill in Power BI development. It allows you to combine data from multiple columns into a single, more informative field. This can be useful for creating full names, product codes, or any other scenario where you need to combine information. 

How CONCATENATE Works 

The CONCATENATE function joins two text strings into one. You can use text, numbers, or even references to other columns within the function. 

Here’s the basic syntax: 

= CONCATENATE(<text1>, <text2>) 

• <text1>: The first piece of data you want to combine. 
• <text2>: The second piece of data you want to combine. 

 

Concatenating More Than Two Columns 

The DAX CONCATENATE function only accepts two arguments. But fear not! If you need to join more than two columns, you can use either nested CONCATENATE functions or the ampersand (&) operator. 

The ampersand is a simpler way to achieve concatenation. Here’s an example: 

= [Product abbreviation] & "-" & [Product number] 

This formula combines the Product abbreviation and Product number columns with a hyphen in between. 

 

Looking for other tips from our Power BI Development Experts? 

• How to Share Power BI Report 
• How to Refresh Dataset in Power BI 
• How to Add a Slicer in Power BI 
• How to Add Drillthrough in Power BI 

 

Hire Power BI Developer

For seamless Power BI development and to create interactive dashboards and reports that turn your data into actionable insights, hire a Power BI developer today. Get in touch with one of our Power BI Consultants today to discuss your needs.