Power BI is a powerful analytic tool. To get the most out of it, you need to pay attention to the date format. The right Power BI date format helps users to thoroughly display, interpret, and analyze their data sets. This helps in drawing insights and making informed decisions in the long run.
In this guide, you’ll find the correct date format in Power BI, why you need to change the date format, and the most common Power BI date format.
First…
Definition: Dates within visuals and reports in Power BI can be displayed using a variety of date formats. A good grasp of these formats will boost your efficiency and effectiveness when working with Power BI. Here are some things you should keep in mind when formatting dates in Power BI.
Power BI enables users to customize how dates are showcased in their reports and visuals — it offers flexibility when it comes to date formatting.
Here are some reasons you should adjust the date formats in Power BI.
Different date formats align with other regional standards and preferences. By changing the Power BI date format, you’ll ascertain that the dates are easily understandable and familiar to the audience. This will, in turn, improve the readability of the reports — and it also makes it easy for the user to analyze and interpret the data.
Consistent Power BI date format, especially when using DAX format, throughout multiple reports helps in maintaining a professional appearance. It also aids in ascertaining uniformity across the visuals. If the date formats are the same across different tables and charts, the audience will easily understand that aspect of the data.
Customization of the date formats helps align the dates with the visual design of the report. Users are enabled to choose Power BI date formats that align with the aesthetics of the Power BI dashboards and reports. That will result in a polished and cohesive look.
Adjusting the date formats can improve the filtering and sorting features of the Power BI. For instance, dates showcased as “dd-mmm-yyyy” (example: 01-Feb-2024) are typically sorted chronologically based on the date values. And that enables accurate analysis that is time-based. Proper formatting of the dates makes it easy for the user to apply date-based slicers and filters.
Opting for the right Power BI date format helps you perform a more robust data analysis. For instance, when different granularities are used in formatting dates (for example: month, quarter, year), it gives room for intuitive aggregation and grouping of time-based data. It also helps in analyzing trends and making comparisons between data sets.
To change the Power BI date format, you’ll have to select your preferred date field in the visual. After that, navigate to the “Format” pane, and adjust the date format option found under “Format” or “Date category.”
Alternatively, DAX expressions can be used to create custom date formats.
The data below will be used for this illustration.
To upload the table above onto the Power BI, you’ll have to follow the steps below:
To change the data format, you’ll have to:
Using the appropriate Power BI date format helps you create clear reports and dashboards that your users will understand. You can get the most out of your Power BI date format by:
Troubleshooting your Power BI for any date format issue is easy. First, you need to ascertain that the date formatting settings are correct. Next, you’ll have to verify that the date data is formatted the right way. Finally, fit for formatting issues with the data source. You also need to make sure that the data is consistent across multiple sources.
Stage 2: Create a Data Set and Select the Data Set to be used in the Sankey Chart.
Country | Revenue Stream | Revenue (in $) |
USA | Digital Advertising Revenue | 39,620,000 |
USA | Event Marketing Revenue | 10,670,000 |
USA | Content Marketing Revenue | 5,580,000 |
USA | Print & Outdoor Revenue | 455,270 |
UK | Digital Advertising Revenue | 40,710,000 |
UK | Event Marketing Revenue | 24,770,000 |
UK | Content Marketing Revenue | 6,330,000 |
UK | Print & Outdoor Revenue | 552,190 |
DNK | Digital Advertising Revenue | 47,040,000 |
DNK | Event Marketing Revenue | 29,070,000 |
DNK | Content Marketing Revenue | 7,740,000 |
DNK | Print & Outdoor Revenue | 600,690 |
DNK | Media Relations Revenue | 106,430 |
AUS | Digital Advertising Revenue | 53,790,000 |
AUS | Event Marketing Revenue | 38,530,000 |
AUS | Content Marketing Revenue | 6,590,000 |
AUS | Print & Outdoor Revenue | 9,040,000 |
AUS | Media Relations Revenue | 6,130,000 |
FR | Digital Advertising Revenue | 57,860,000 |
FR | Event Marketing Revenue | 50,450,000 |
FR | Content Marketing Revenue | 3,560,000 |
FR | Print & Outdoor Revenue | 18,790,000 |
FR | Media Relations Revenue | 15,460,000 |
IND | Digital Advertising Revenue | 60,470,000 |
IND | Event Marketing Revenue | 63,200,000 |
IND | Content Marketing Revenue | 2,080,000 |
IND | Print & Outdoor Revenue | 29,500,000 |
IND | Media Relations Revenue | 30,020,000 |
FAQs
What is the date format for the BI report?
Power BI date formats include yyyy/mm/dd (example: 2023/01/01), dd-mmm-yyyy (example: 01-Jan-2023), mmm dd, yyyy (example: Jan 01, 2024), or other customizable formats.
How do you specify the date in Power BI?
You can do that by using the date column from the data source. The date columns are recognized and treated like date data — and that enables data-based visualizations and calculations.
How do I fix the date format error in Power BI?
You have to make sure that the date column in the data source is correctly formatted. If you want to adjust your display format, use the “Format” pane option.
Using the right Power BI date format helps make your work clear and consistent. It helps your audience to easily analyze and understand your data. By changing the date formats, you can align the data with the reporting requirements and regional preferences.
The appropriate date formats can improve readability, and simplify the process that goes into data interpretation.
Being proficient with the use of Power BI is the first step towards creating compelling visuals. Being able to change Power BI date formats is a vital piece that helps in the creation of a visually appealing presentation. The right date formats offer extra context or emphasis to the data presentation — and that comes in handy during certain visualizations and analyses.
Now you know how to change Power BI date formats, what is your most preferred date format in Power BI?