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Alusine_Kamara's avatar
Alusine_Kamara
Helper II
2 years ago
Solved

Formatting Column

Dear All, please can someone help me with the difference between a "Whole number" formatted column and a "Numeric" formatted column. Examples of when to use both would be highly appreciated. Thanks.
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  • marcelsmaglhaes's avatar
    marcelsmaglhaes
    2 years ago

    Hey Alusine_Kamara 

    In Power BI, the "Whole Number" and "Decimal Number" formats refer to how the numeric values in a column are displayed. Here's the difference between them:

    1. Whole Number Format:

      • Usage: This format is suitable for columns that represent counts, quantities, or any numeric values that should be displayed as whole numbers without decimal places.
      • Examples:
        • Number of units sold.
        • Quantity of items in stock.

    2. Decimal Number Format (Numeric):

      • Usage: This format is used when you want to display numeric values with decimal places. It is suitable for columns where precision with decimals is important.
      • Examples:
        • Average sales price.
        • Percentage values.

    When to Use:

    • Use the "Whole Number" format when your values represent counts or quantities that are naturally whole numbers (e.g., number of customers, units sold).
    • Use the "Decimal Number" format when your values include fractional parts or require a specific level of precision (e.g., average rating, revenue).
marcelsmaglhaes's avatar
marcelsmaglhaes
Super User
2 years ago

Hey Alusine_Kamara 

In Power BI, the "Whole Number" and "Decimal Number" formats refer to how the numeric values in a column are displayed. Here's the difference between them:

  1. Whole Number Format:

    • Usage: This format is suitable for columns that represent counts, quantities, or any numeric values that should be displayed as whole numbers without decimal places.
    • Examples:
      • Number of units sold.
      • Quantity of items in stock.

  2. Decimal Number Format (Numeric):

    • Usage: This format is used when you want to display numeric values with decimal places. It is suitable for columns where precision with decimals is important.
    • Examples:
      • Average sales price.
      • Percentage values.

When to Use:

  • Use the "Whole Number" format when your values represent counts or quantities that are naturally whole numbers (e.g., number of customers, units sold).
  • Use the "Decimal Number" format when your values include fractional parts or require a specific level of precision (e.g., average rating, revenue).