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As always, naming things is hard.

Power Query Formula Language is long

M is short

Is there a nice middle ground or are we sticking with 'M'?

For example, there might be conflicts when it comes to creating things like Syntax Highlighting packages in Sublime Text... m.tmTheme. An example of someone who changed name at v1. Or are we happy with powerqueryformulalanguage.thTheme.

I know this question might be flagged as subjective, but seriously, it is early days so hopefully soon it is an easy answer.

BTW What tags do I use for this question?? :/

m - The M Modelling Language was a component of Microsoft's "Oslo" project, later known as SQL Server Modeling CTP. The project was canceled in late 2010.

powerqueryformulalanguage - does not exist...

Jay Killeen
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    Good question. Very good question. I wish that Sublime or Notepad++ would offer M syntax highlighting and I totally agree that we need a naming convention. I've sent your question to the Microsoft Power BI team for their input. – teylyn Jan 29 '16 at 07:38
  • @teylyn there is an M language file for Notepad++ here: http://www.mattmasson.com/2014/11/notepad-language-file-for-the-power-query-formula-language-m/ – GregGalloway Jan 29 '16 at 13:05
  • Some tools might recognize `.m` file extensions, but I wouldn't take that as an official statement :) – Carl Walsh Jan 29 '16 at 22:15
  • @GregGalloway Thank you!! – teylyn Jan 30 '16 at 01:46
  • Thanks @teylyn that was a great idea. In Sublime Text I am using C# syntax highlighting and have started building my own snippets (https://github.com/jaykilleen/weetbix-sublime). There isn't much there but at least helps me use Sublime as my editor and then copy and paste into BI or use the `EvaluatedExpression = Expression.Evaluate(Source, #shared)` pattern. I'll check out the Notepad++ stuff too as I think there is a package to import those into ST3. – Jay Killeen Feb 01 '16 at 00:32
  • I have raised this as an Idea on the PowerBI Idea UserVoice page https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/11680242-provide-an-official-short-name-for-power-query-for – Jay Killeen Feb 02 '16 at 02:27
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    I liked PQL (from the User Voice discussion). – Mike Honey Apr 17 '16 at 06:40

2 Answers2

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Not too happy with the short M as well, but: 1) Power Query will be called Get&Transform from Excel 2016 onwards, so might die out as a name as well 2) R delivers acceptable search results by now

How about M# as an alternative? (As the # already sneaks into the stepnames...)

Re the editor: You can find an improved version with IntelliSense and Parameter hints here: http://power-bi-usergroup.blogspot.de/2015/11/creating-editor-for-power-query-with.html?utm_source=hootsuite&m=1

ImkeF
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  • R because R is being integrated more into Power Query or was that at type? – Jay Killeen Feb 02 '16 at 02:28
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    I meant that R is just as disadvantageously short as M. But as so many people use it by now, even such a short expression could turn out to be OK. But of course any element to improve would make sense - therefore the # or ^. – ImkeF Feb 02 '16 at 07:06
  • OK true, good point. That might very well be what Microsoft does and I'll do my best then to blog the hell out of it so it gets some link juice :) As long as everyone is singing the same tune then it'll stick. – Jay Killeen Feb 02 '16 at 07:50
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I think M is for 'Mashup'! Microsoft's language specification document alludes to this, but doesn't state it explicitly:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/power-query-m-language-specification

I don't think the marketing team were going to let that through though...

Kevnotec
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