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Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

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Christiaan B.'s profile image

Christiaan B. on 29 Aug 2017 05:15:12

Typically date & time information is available in UTC (if not then put it to UTC at source), you just want it rendered in the users' locale/time zone at reporting time.

Adding an option to format datetimezone fields in the users' locale/time zone (based on the user account settings) would probably solve 90+% of requirements for rendering time zone information.

Currently MS does not provide for showing offset information (or local time zone) as you only have date/time format options, but in the query editor you can set type to datetimezone which show offset info so it's clearly available - just the rendering that lacks.

Not having this functionality is forcing people to resort to hacks like using DateTimeZone.AddZone () with hardcoded time offsets - not scalable where DST is involved. Current workarounds obviously only work as long as the viewer is in the designated time zone and does not scale across a global audience.

Comments (33)
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4ba65757 651a-46bf-99dc-2ba80aa838e4 on 06 Jul 2020 00:14:27

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Come on Microsoft, it is ridiculous that this is not available! Why can't the online server use the local time of the person running the report! Especially if the report is to be used in multiple timezone!

Please get this fixed ASAP.

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eee30156 8690-4348-ae96-7047470fa253 on 06 Jul 2020 00:10:39

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Here's a hacky workaround to handle offset with DST in the PBI service:
https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Service/Handling-local-time-zone-with-Daylight-Savings-in-Power-BI/m-p/991812#M91044

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83148c71 b596-4fe2-ab89-03d88a40ab59 on 06 Jul 2020 00:09:48

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Its ridiculous that this isn't available in Power BI.

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08905a3e b60a-47e4-9f2c-ff12e9241746 on 06 Jul 2020 00:04:05

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

We had a similar requirement for customers who are spread across 6 different timezones. It was a hell lot of endeavor to translate each and every date column using switchzone () functions. Only to know that it fails during DST.
I can't comprehend for what silly reason does MS don't include this obvious and critical feature when all the ingredients are at place with herself
This is hampering work and minimizing customer experience
Looking forward for this soon...

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80563a9a 00a4-40b8-ac9c-b20f9d2ddf29 on 06 Jul 2020 00:00:21

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Very surprised this still isn't built into Power BI or Power Query.

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5b46399f 2a0b-4a18-9c19-f4e44e275996 on 05 Jul 2020 23:55:55

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

This is something that pretty much exists everywhere apart from Power BI!
Just choosing which timezone is local is what we indeed need. Either choosing a report wide time zone, OR being able to specify in the DAX query which time zone I want this date to switch to. For example, from UTC datetime to UK datetime.

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972de426 c595-4e95-83a3-3fb0e4479345 on 05 Jul 2020 23:52:12

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Truly absurd that this is still an issue.

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00c91561 ffba-4b13-800e-6fafd6c029b8 on 05 Jul 2020 23:48:45

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Desperately need this. Reporting is unreliable without easy way to show in local time

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a5ab92d1 ea04-4143-bdb4-0a6c92056209 on 05 Jul 2020 23:48:03

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Currently threre is no option to show the data as per the user local timezone in power BI Service. if a country is having multiple timezones , can we implement something that we are using in D365 ( which will show the data according to the users local timezone). Or is there any idea already exists. i wiuld be helpful if we have a option to configure timezone in Power BI service.
Thanks.

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bb27ea5b 125c-4bc7-be48-8eb84a4631de on 05 Jul 2020 23:47:59

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Come on product team - this is a basic necessity! Just need a formatting option on datetimeoffset fields that allow you to render it in local/alternative timezone.