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Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type

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Kevin H on 08 Sep 2017 04:29:54

For example: when the Power BI data model first creates a column with Data Type = 'Date', by default that column is formatted like 'Wednesday, March 14, 2001 (dddd, MMMM d, yyyy)'.

Then, I always go to the Modeling tab, and use the Format drop-down to change it to '2001-03-14 (yyyy-MM-dd)'.

Instead, I would like to be able to go into the "Options" menu in Power BI Desktop, and have a section where, for each Data Type (or at least Date, Date/Time, Decimal Number and Whole Number), I can set the default Format.

So that I don't have to manually change it every single time!

It would also be nice to add this as a setting in the Power BI Service. Set default Formats (maybe for the entire tenant, or maybe by user?) when creating a data model using the Power BI Service.

Comments (24)
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65386cf3 4bd8-48fa-8a23-ba7a4f535dca on 05 Jul 2020 23:14:20

RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type

Glad to find this! I ran into this issue yesterday, really frustrating! New data source for visualizations so I go into EDIT QUERIES & verify data types for date/currency fields. Then I notice that 1 dashboard is displaying something like 10 decimal places for totals on a currency field & the dates are displaying DDD MM/DD/YYYY. Quickly check underlying Excel Workbook - nope, everything is 2 decimal places. Double check EDIT QUERIES... find need to go into MODELING to set 2 decimal places on the currency fields & MM/DD/YYYY on date fields.
This should all be under OPTIONS, the ability to set default formatting for ALL date & numeric fields instead of needing to set this twice! MAJOR waste of time.

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74e21274 abb2-4803-9111-0fef4964d2df on 05 Jul 2020 23:13:09

RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type

Agree, I have to change date format for every column for every report.
Also, changing date format won't affect slicer !

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4d63306d ad4a-444b-bffc-5386eb72c5cc on 05 Jul 2020 23:06:19

RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type

Yes agree, also should be able to format dates (and all data types) per visualisation and/or per report!

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3101328d e4e2-4d82-a3ff-9aefdd878e1e on 05 Jul 2020 22:58:38

RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type

Also, for practically every single 'Decimal Number' column I create, I change the Format to add the thousands separator (comma).

Just another example where it would be nice to be able to simply set my own default Format.