Excel Connect to PowerBi Data Converts Dates to Text

[Eric]

I'm connecting to PowerBi data using the Analyze in Excel add-in but when I add Dates to a PivotTable they show up as text even though they are clearly defined as dates in PowerBi.  Anyone know how to overcome this issue?

I am not adding the data to the data model and I am not using PowerPivot.  I am simply connecting to the OLAP data using the PowerBi add-in for Excel.

[IuriMan]

I have the have issue and it was not yet resolved.

[johndolan2]

I have the same issue. 

[v-sihou-msft · Accepted solution]

@Eric

By default, all dates will be evaluated as text when "connect live" to OLAP data source. 

Are you connecting OLAP source with live connection from Power BI? Can you share some screenshots?

Regards,

[Wil]

Hi Simon,

Is this problem going to be fixed?

Is there any workaround?

Thanks

[Eric]

Simon, thanks for the response.  Yes, I am connecting live to the PowerBI service (OLAP) which dramatically streamlines my Excel models and makes them much more responsive than having huge datasets in the Excel data model. 

But, the date conversion issue is a real nuisance.  To me, it makes absolutely no sense for dates to be converted to text by default.  Can this be changed?  Is there a switch setting somewhere to override the default setting?

Best regards,

Eric