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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 (82)
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Power BI User on 05 Jul 2020 23:53:51

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

The default format is absolutely awful.

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Claudio on 05 Jul 2020 23:48:55

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

Definitely I vote this!

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Jen Z on 05 Jul 2020 23:47:04

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

I agree. And I agree with Bernat; the default date format is just dumb. How often does anyone really want a date in that long format??

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Karl on 05 Jul 2020 23:46:12

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

Completely crazy that this feature doesn't exist. I do NOT want each user to have his own format, I want to force it globally. Dates should always be YYYY-MM-DD, numbers should always have dot decimal separator, etc.

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Tibo on 05 Jul 2020 23:43:27

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

Agree with Kevin H comment, this also need to be fixed for default number formatting to set default decimals places, thousand separator, currency code,...

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Bernat Agulló on 05 Jul 2020 23:39:56

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

I would be glad even if only the default value was not such an obnoxious and long format as it is now...

isn't there any xml file which can be tuned or something?

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KRIS WILLISON on 05 Jul 2020 23:27:06

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

PLEASE implement this feature! Very time consuming to have to go in to MODELING & have to set default format for date field on every file pulled in. I am currently leaving any that are "report only" as text to save time.

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Gabriel Lainesse on 05 Jul 2020 23:24:16

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

This would be a really nice quality of life improvement. Supported!

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KRIS WILLISON 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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n 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 !