Creating a Shift Column from Date-Time

[Tarun-Bhatia]

Hi There

Need help in creating Shift column in PowerBi Desktop using Date-Time(READY_DATETIME) column.

Shift 1: 6am - 2pm

Shift 2: 2pm - 10pm

Shift 3: 10pm - 6am

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[edhans]

Hi @Tarun-Bhatia - can you push this back into Power Query? Custom columns there will generally perform better than calculated columns in DAX. See links below for explanation.

If you can, use this formula in a new Custom Column in Power Query:

let
   varTime = DateTime.Time([Date])
in
if varTime >= #time(6,0,0) and varTime < #time(14,0,0) then "Shift 1"
else if varTime >= #time(14,0,0) and varTime < #time(22,0,0) then "Shift 2"
else "Shift 3"

It returns this:

You'd then just need to change the data type of the [Shift] column to Text before closing and loading to the Data Model. The varTime variable I created just simplifies data entry. You could also just type this:

if DateTime.Time([Date]) >= #time(6,0,0) and DateTime.Time([Date]) < #time(14,0,0) then "Shift 1"
else if DateTime.Time([Date]) >= #time(14,0,0) and DateTime.Time([Date]) < #time(22,0,0) then "Shift 2"
else "Shift 3"

Same result, just slightly harder to read and edit imho.

In general, try to avoid calculated columns. There are times to use them, but it is rare. Getting data out of the source system, creating columns in Power Query, or DAX Measures are usually preferred to calculated columns. See these references:
Calculated Columns vs Measures in DAX
Calculated Columns and Measures in DAX
Storage differences between calculated columns and calculated tables
SQLBI Video on Measures vs Calculated Columns

[amitchandak · Accepted solution]

@Tarun-Bhatia ,

Try a new column as

New column ?
var _hr á hour([readydatetime])
Return
switch(True(),
_hr<6 && _hr >22 , "Shift 3",
_hr < 14 , "Shift 2",
"Shift 1"
)

[Tarun-Bhatia]

Thanks @amitchandak 

I guess small issue here, Its not showing correct Shifts based on hour (Shift 1 should be between 6am - 2pm, Shift 2 between 2pm - 10pm).

Wondering If thats because ready_datetime column shows AM/PM Instead of 24 hour?

Thanks