Power BI Output Tool - Date Formats

[allisonlevyHAL]

Hi,

We are experiencing issues using the Power BI Output tool. We understand that Alteryx does not allow you to output fields in Alteryx Date formats to the Power BI Output tool. As such, we have to manually make the fields strings. However, when you export a data set to Power BI, you are unable to edit the data set whatsoever (all of these functions are grayed out and not available in Power BI online or desktop). Unfortunately, this renders the Power BI Output tool useless to us if we cannot create datetime filters within Power BI. Has anyone found a workaround to get dates successfully in date formats when using the Power BI Output tool? I see many community posts and youtube videos about this but have not come across a solution yet.

Examples:

Parse error with Power Bi Output Tool - Alteryx Community

Power bi connector issues with data types - Alteryx Community

Alteryx - Power BI Output Tool Revisited! - YouTube

Please help!

[caltang]

Have you tried this: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/Power-Bi-Date-Ouput-in-Table/t... 

Also, on PowerBI end, can you try this: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Power-Query/Convert-Data-Type-from-Text-to-Date-and-into-a-Differen...

Otherwise, I would suggest to split the Date into three parts, Day | Month | Year, and then upload to PowerBI. From there, create a calculated field that makes it into a date if possible.

[caltang]

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/Parse-error-with-Power-Bi-Outp...

The link you gave did have someone finding a way:

[allisonlevyHAL]

Hi @cal unfortunately once the data is in Power BI, you cannot edit the data at all, all of those tools are blocked even the transform data view. So we cannot use the calculated field method or edit the data whatsoever. 

We have tried BilliePaul's method and it does not work. The data will export from Alteryx in a string format, but it will be a string in Power BI and that is where we get stuck in trying to convert it to a date. :(

[Aguisande]

Hi @allisonlevyHAL 

Which versions of Alteryx and Output To PowerBI tool are you using?

Asking because I'm curious I can upload DATES without a problem on my end.

Can you try using version 3.2.0 of the Output to PowerBI tool and let me know?

[alexg1]

This seems to be a pain point for many people. Are the final values you upload in date format, datetime format, or string format? I can't seem to get Power BI to recognize them as dates

[Tony_Castillo]

DateTime format is still a problem with Designer Version: 2023.2.1.7 and Power BI Output connector v3.3.1. You have to convert it to a Date format in order to upload to your workspace without syntax error. 

[Tony_Castillo]

Is there a number format conflict between Alteryx and Power BI as well? I'm seeing an issue with the sums in a Power BI Matrix from an Alteryx sourced Power BI Semantic Model. Yet, the same issue does not exists if I use a flat file. I've tried all number formats all each produce a different reporting sum. 

Similar issue found: https://community.fabric.microsoft.com/t5/Service/PBI-Dataset-showing-columns-as-Measures-and-table-...

[gawa]

Today I have the same issue as @allisonlevyHAL raised, and have found this thread. 

With ver. 3.3.0, I failed to load data to Power BI dataset if it contains date/datetime fields. 

I tried workaround as per the below post(change from date to string type, and format it into mm//dd/yyyy, etc.), but Power BI still recognize those fields as STRING data.
https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/Parse-error-with-Power-Bi-Outp...

Unfortunately, in my case, I don't have permission to transform data on Power BI online, I cannot change data type anymore once they are loaded as STRING.

As next move, I tried to use ver. 3.2.0( suggested by @Aguisande), I succeeded to load data to Power BI dataset even if it contains date/datetime fields, and, of course, Power BI recognizes those fields as DATE type.

However, ver.3.2.0 does not support DCM connection, so WF using ver.3.2.0 will not work on Alteryx Server for scheduling purpose. 

This is summary of my observation.

Version	3.2.0	3.3.0
Can accept DATE field?	YES	NO
DCM supported?	NO	YES

[fatehali23]

@gawa Hi there, facing the same issue. Where can I download the 3.2.0 version? In the Alteryx marketplace, there are only 3.3.0 and 3.3.1. 

I appreciate your support on this.