topic Re: Change date type without losing native query in Power Query

Change date type without losing native query

Gertjan — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:46:54 GMT

Hi there,

I have a table with two columns: item and date. There are four applied steps in the Power Query: Source, Navigation, Renamed Columns and Changed Type.

Date is initially formatted as text, but I want it to be a date, so that's what the Changed Type step is all about. However, I lose native query after adding this step. Is there a way to avoid this, so that it will still be possible to view native query?

I don't want to change the date type already in the SQL database (because of multiple databases with several languages).

Any kind of help is appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Change date type without losing native query

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 12:02:58 GMT

Instead of Table.TransformColumnTypes, go back and make it Table.TransformColumns, and replace "type date" with "Date.From". Basically using Date.From to transform instead of changing types.

--Nate

Re: Change date type without losing native query

Gertjan — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:47:00 GMT

Thanks Anonymous, the query itself works, however it still doesn't allow to view native query. Any other solution?

Re: Change date type without losing native query

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:43:21 GMT

That is surprising, my friend. Did you happen to re-click the steps from beginning to end, to make sure that the View Native Query doesn't light up? Or perhaps clear the cache?

Oh yeah, you could try Date.FromText, or even just the Parse Date GUI function.

--Nate

Re: Change date type without losing native query

Gertjan — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 06:51:16 GMT

I re-clicked the steps, cleared the cache and tried the other functions. However, View Native Query still doesn't light up. Any other ideas?

Re: Change date type without losing native query

v-kkf-msft — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 06:47:22 GMT

Hi Gertjan ,

In Power Query, Text -> all transformations would break query-folding.

Changing data types that do not break query-folding in Power Query / Power BI

Please try using sql statement in query.

let Source = Sql.Database(".", "CaseTest", [Query="select #(lf) CAST( [Date2] AS date) [Date],#(lf) [Value] as [Rename_Value]#(lf)from [dbo].[Test1$]"]) in Source

If the problem is still not resolved, please provide detailed error information or the expected result you expect. Let me know immediately, looking forward to your reply.
Best Regards,
Winniz
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Re: Change date type without losing native query

Gertjan — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:14:43 GMT

Thanks for your suggestion. However, it still doesn't allow me to view native query.

Maybe it's just not possible?

Re: Change date type without losing native query

AlexCod — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 11:49:02 GMT

Not sure if you still searching for a fix, however this is how i did it.

Use this in the SQL statement " CONVERT(DATE, t.[SHIPDATE], 103) AS 'Shipment Date' " (use your column names )

It will automatically recognise the column as Date/Time

And you do not need the "Changed Type" step that blocks the Native Query:

And after that, just change the format to "Short Date" from the "Table View"

And you can use the column in a relashionship with another table.

And because you are not breaking the Native Query, you can use the "Incremental Refresh" as well without the warning of not being able to fold.