Splitter.SplitTextByAnyDelimiter|Power Query|Excel Forum|My Online Training Hub

You cannot split each row into separate columns.

Add a column with Text.Split , you can pass a different separator to each row. The result will be a list, with List.FirstN you can keep only 5 items.

Then, you can combine the list back with a unique separator. Finally, split this column by the unique separator you specified.

All in one formula for a new column:

try Text.Combine(List.FirstN(Text.Split([Column1]," "),5),"|") otherwise null

Hard to understand how you need to have the result, I'll have to guess.

I'll assume that you want to split into 5 columns AND keep whatever is after 5 elements into another column. Or you want 4 items in first 4 columns, and the rest in column 5?

Please provide clear descriptions next time, to save our time and get a faster and accurate solution, that's why a sample file with before and after examples is the best way to go.

Whenever I have a challenge, I go to the list of available power query functions searching for one that might fit my scenario.

In this case, if you want to have more than 1 delimiter add a new column with Text.SplitAny instead of Text.Split:
Text.SplitAny([Column1],"- ,")

Note that consecutive delimiters will create a blank item, you might want to replace in the entire column ", " with ","

In the new column, you will have each entry as a list of items, you can apply List functions to this column.
You can: add a column with Text.Combine(List.FirstN([Custom],5),"|")

You can split this column by the new delimiter, you will get 5 columns.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/list-firstn

Add now another column with: Text.Combine(List.RemoveFirstN([Custom],5),", ")

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/list-removefirstn

This last column will have all items after 5 items.

I'm not able to open your pbix file, it's incompatible with my PBI version (Version: 2.84.981.0 64-bit (August 2020))

Can you provide the example of the desired result in excel?

Really don't understand what you mean.

I tried your query, with both scenarios:

-adding "/aaa" at the end of the third value,

-adding "aaa/" at the beginning of the third value.

The result is correct, I get 8 columns.

How can I replicate what you're saying?
Are you adding a delimiter NOT specified in Text.SplitAny? Please provide all details, don't let me guess what you did.

List.Max cannot be used on text values, will apply an alphabetical text sorting, in your example list.max will return the text that starts with USA...

You have to transform from text to a count, use this step instead of what you have:

Table.SplitColumn(#"Added Custom", "Custom", Splitter.SplitTextByDelimiter(";", QuoteStyle.Csv), List.Max(List.Transform(#"Added Custom"[Custom],each List.Count(Text.Split(_,";")
))))

Or, in 2 steps:

Or: