Generate a random number to download a data

[gomezc73]

Hi Experts,

  I need ideas for the following request.

  Let me explain,

  I have a powerBi Desktop to generate a data and the user can download it to excel.

  In one of the column of the downloaded data the user need an "unique identifier" or "next number" unique. to identify each excel file.

  Then i thinking generate it using a combination with the date and time (seconds inclusive) to be sure the "identifer" will be unique..

  But I don't know if PowerBi have commands to help with this request..

  The only premise is that there cannot be 2 Excel files with the same identifier.

  Any ideas will be be appreciatte,

Regards

[v-xuxinyi-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @gomezc73 

Thanks for the reply from Syk .

@gomezc73 , the following testing is for your reference.

My sample:

Create a calculated column as follows

Column = UTCNOW()

You can do a refresh operation first when you download as excel.

Output in excel

Best Regards,
Yulia Xu

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[gomezc73]

Thank you!!. I made test days ago and I found the same response in a video in youtube using additionally the command RANK to generate a unique identifier. the only issue is that i had to create a button to allow the user refresh the data and it take a long of time. i don't know what happen with PBI but the time is not updated automatically.

[Syk]

In Power Query you can create an index column which will set a unique identifier for each row.

[gomezc73]

Thank you for your early response,

The identifier that i need is not related with the data, it must be related with the date/time when the user download the data generated to excel.

By example, if the user generate the same data with the same parameters, by example for July 2024.

Then the user must have two identical excel files, the only difference between them is the identifier..

[Syk]

Ahh... I don't think Power BI would be much help for you there. It sounds like a python sort of use case to me.