DirectQuery Connection Showing Format Strings Instead of Numeric Values

[Jelle-Scheper]

Hello Power BI Community,

We've encountered an issue when connecting to our semantic model using DirectQuery—most values in our dashboards are now being displayed as format strings rather than the expected numerical values.

For example, here's one of our measures:

Measure:

NetSales = SUM(FactSalesLine[TotalExclVat])

formatString: "€"\ #,0;-"€"\ #,0;"€"\ #,0

When using DirectQuery, this behavior occurs, yet it seems different when using a Live Connection.

Is there any documentation or known guidance on how formatting should behave under DirectQuery, or are we missing a specific configuration to correct this? Any insights or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Behavior on DirectQuery:

Behavior on Live Connection:

[v-sathmakuri]

Hi @Jelle-Scheper ,

I hope this information proves helpful. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or would like to discuss this in more detail. If responses provided answers your question, please accept it as a solution so other community members with similar problems can find a solution faster.

Thank you!!

[v-sathmakuri]

Hi @Jelle-Scheper ,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. If my response has addressed your query, please accept it as a solution and give a 'Kudos' so other members can easily find it.

Thank you!!

[v-sathmakuri]

Hi @Jelle-Scheper ,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Fabric Community.

I used the same measure that you provided and tried to replicate the issue, but it’s working fine on my end. Please see the screenshot below for reference.

Please try installing the new version of power bi desktop file from here (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=58494 ). Let us know if you are still facing the same issue.

If this post helps, then please consider Accepting as solution to help the other members find it more quickly, don't forget to give a "Kudos" – I’d truly appreciate it! 

Thanks & Regards,

Rekha,

Customer Support Team.

[Jelle-Scheper]

The problem presented itself in Power BI Service as well. Updating desktop versions was not the solution.

[v-sathmakuri]

Hi @Jelle-Scheper ,

You can apply the FORMAT function as shown below to achieve the expected results, even when using DirectQuery mode. This approach has worked for me, please refer to the screenshot below for reference. Let me know if it doesn’t work on your end.

NetSalesFormatted =

FORMAT(SUM(Customers[ID]), "-€\ #,0")

If this post helps, then please consider Accepting as solution to help the other members find it more quickly, don't forget to give a "Kudos" – I’d truly appreciate it! 

Thank you!!

[Jelle-Scheper]

That would result in an unsortable measure in tables as you would sort on a text data type. We've found our own solution now that does not involve such comprimises. Thanks!

[v-sathmakuri]

Hi @Jelle-Scheper ,

Glad to hear you found a solution! If possible, could you please share it here and mark it as the accepted answer? It would be really helpful for others who might run into the same issue.

Thank you!!

[Jasper_YourBI]

I am also facing this issue - no clear solution so far.

[danielvdc]

I'm having similar issues.. Haven't found a working solution so far