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 (76)
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
Workaround for dates: there is a bulk format edit option in Power BI Model (Table Relationships) view. On the right pane you can use search to filter to the all the fields having "Date" in the name, then using ctrl select all of them and in properties select a date format you like to apply to all of them.
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
Everyone in my company forgets to set the date format when building new report. If it is set, it is often incorrect in Europe.
What a waste of time.
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
This is needed, or at least a way where I can select all date type columns simultaneously and change their format. One at a time is quite painful on wide tables.
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
I have way to many dates to have to change every time I use Power BI.
Allow us to default to what every format we choose.
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
It's pain in a neck to see Tuesday, July 6, 2021 instead of 07/06/2021 or 07-06-2021 or 2021-07-06 etc.
It's ironic to see 3 and half years old thread and Microsoft has done nothing about it.
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
This is desperately needed functionality, and will be greatly appreciated by the community. This would be a step toward the mantra "spend more time analyzing your data". Thanks in advance, Microsoft Power BI Team!
DataInsights, Super User II
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
not being able to set a default date format is utterly moronic
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
Hey, Microsoft! It's been 3 1/2 years since this idea was suggested. What's it going to take for you to actually respond to this idea? Crowdsourcing? A bake sale?
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
I'm here yet again. I can only imagine the reason this has just 205 votes is because the votes are split over similar, differently-worded requests. It is sheer madness that, as others have noted:
1. The default date format is so long-winded
2. It's US-centric. Sorry, but today is 5/1/2021 (or 2021-1-5), not 1-5-2021
3. This can't be set in a system- or file-wide way
So here I go again, going and fixing this field-by-field, as have others around the world.
RE: Set the data model's default Format, for each Data Type
Please allow us to define our own defaults (number of decimals, date format, thousands separator, etc. Thank you.