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Excel Text Columns read as Number
I'm trying to import an Excel file into BI Desktop. The first column in the spreadsheet is a TEXT column but when I try to load into my Power BI dashboard, it changes it to a NUMBER column. Consequent...
I got it to work!
On a whim, I decided to sort the dealer number column in DESCENDING order. This placed dealer numbers beginning with Z first instead of dealer number 13.
Apparently, PBI must make assumptions regarding the column type based not on the Excel file but on the first record(s) in the column when imported. By changing the sort order so the alph/numeric records were first, everything loaded fine! :smileyhappy: Thanks.
You can also go to the Query Editor in Power BI, select the table coming from Excel file that is having the issue, and delete the "Change Type" action. This seems to leave the data types as originally defined in the Excel file. I had the same issue as you and this solved the problem.