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Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

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Marco Russo on 21 Oct 2019 16:17:33

Power BI Desktop has an editor that modifies the DAX code trying to respect the locale settings. This creates a number of issues in certain combinations of locale settings; because of that, there are bugs that have never been fixed when you have certain expressions
Moreover, respecting the syntax using locale settings creates additional issues when you copy/paste formulas in other tools that might not use the locale settings (not to mention community forums!).

Please, consider adding an option to Power BI Desktop to use the standard comma (,) as list separator and dot (.) as decimal point for DAX editor in Power BI. This way, you will make life easier to many developers managing different locale settings in their environment. As an added bonus, you (MS devs) will have more time to fix the existing bugs, because you (MS support) will be able to provide a better workaround (today users have to change Windows settings).

Administrator on 20 May 2020 23:31:30

I'm excited to say that this item is completed! Marco Russo joined the PBI team through the Contributor program and was able to implement this for the May 2020 release. Thanks, Marco! https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-desktop-may-2020-feature-summary/#_List_separator

Comments (20)
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3f22f54c 2e70-4e21-b4bc-9dcd79a4f87d on 06 Jul 2020 00:13:48

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

The feature has been completed and released in Power BI Desktop May 2020.
More details here:
https://www.sqlbi.com/blog/marco/2020/05/20/standard-dax-separators-in-power-bi-desktop/

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60a67bab fbd8-4cb6-a8a5-76929edd3a2f on 06 Jul 2020 00:12:29

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings



Semicolon as a separator would be best.

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9dd7693c c4c4-44cd-b7e7-37f7fa2dc59e on 06 Jul 2020 00:12:28

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

Good idea.

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e83c2103 4990-4822-9eb1-a27b0f9be6fa on 06 Jul 2020 00:12:28

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

Pls, it's so important to have the appropiate language not only in words, even in numbres that is so important for the business

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f4163fae c066-47d0-a4d0-111ab906e7a3 on 06 Jul 2020 00:11:49

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

Doing this in Power BI alone sounds like there will be more confusion than before - this would need to go through all products... Scares me - especially if I think about my friends the Excel users. :-)

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a3309361 99be-ea11-a812-000d3a8ddfb2 on 06 Jul 2020 00:07:31

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

Semicolon as a separator would be best.

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869b44d3 b99a-463e-bc0a-4867fcfe2f5a on 06 Jul 2020 00:03:38

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

For me, the best character separator would be the
semicolon.

It should be available for choice when exporting.

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a3309361 99be-ea11-a812-000d3a8ddfb2 on 06 Jul 2020 00:01:48

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

Needed.

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968a3b96 51b3-41a6-82cd-8f4184b81ea4 on 06 Jul 2020 00:01:48

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

Dearly needed.

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4c2ed0fe af19-4eb3-8a88-0f04a594b618 on 06 Jul 2020 00:01:35

RE: Option to use comma as list separator and dot as a decimal point regardless of locale settings

I agree