Need to remove a date heirarchy on one column

[joglidden2]

Have date/time columns.

I went to Options/Settings, Time Intelligence, checked Auto date/time.

Now I automatically get date hierarchy-ies (heirarchies?) upon data load (nothing else worked in getting date hierarchy-ies).

But I can't use these new hierarchy-ies to do simple calculations, or add them to a table in a date format, plus other annoying behaviour that PBI forces on me with dates in date hierarchy format. 

So, I try to simply duplicate the date column with a new column. But that column automatically turns into a date-hierarchy. How do I remove a date-hierarchy from that column so I can do things with it, like a normal date field? Impossible?

My honest impression is this whole date heirarchy thing in PBI is so honked up that I'm beginning to conclude it's just better to turn the whole thing off and manually create columns for the Quarter, Month, Year, etc. 

[joglidden2]

Notes to self:
Part 1- if you need the date hierarchy in the report, but also need a non-hierarchy date column, you must duplicate the date field as directed using this non-intuitive solution (e.g., "Create Hierarchy" actually creates a non-hiearchy date column [please fix this, PBI Team]), in a duplicated and similarly named column. 
Part 2- if you want to format the date type on the duplicated, similarly named column, you must do so on the original column (which also makes no sense, because it's in a hierarchy format, and not the format you specify). You can do this in 'Model view'. 

[joglidden2]

[joglidden2]

Thank you for the suggestion. I've given up on date hierarchy because they are too frustrating to work with. What I could really use is a way of removing it from a duplicated column. Is there a way to remove a date hierarchy without going into settings? 

[TheoC]

Hi @joglidden2 

If you do exactly as I mentioned in the post, you will be able to remove the Date Hiearchy from the specific field. It is literally just clicking the down arrow.

Let me know if what I have put forward does not make sense. 

[joglidden2]

Yes, that makes sense, and I figured out how to do it in a table visual, and thank you. But I want to remove the date hierarchy from the data. I doesn't appear that there's a way to do this, other than going into settings. Basically, if you go heirarchy, you're all in all the time, on all date columns. Me, I'm all out. 

[TheoC]

@joglidden2 can you just untick the "Auto Date/Time" option so that you stop getting the Date Hiearchies?

[joglidden2]

You appear to have answered my question. The answer being, you're either all-in or all-out with date hierarchy-ies. I believe I'll proceed to the 'Ideas Forum' and suggest to the developers that they allow the user to determine which date field the hierarchy function is applied to. Seems like a shortcoming to me. Thank you, @TheoC for your advice and patience. I'm afraid this post is a bust. 

[TheoC · Accepted solution]

Hi  @joglidden2 

I think that's a good approach mate.  Just remember that you can create a hiearchy to the specific dates you want.  Steps: 

1. Switch off / deselect the Auto Time / Date option

2. Go to the Model view 

3. Click on the Date field in the specific table you want the hierarchy in.

4. When you hover over the Date field, click on the More Options button on the right (...)

5. Select "Create Hiearchy"

Below is an example:

 

Not sure if that's what you're talking about?  But by doing this, it's not all in or all out. Rather, it's "start blank" and then pick which Date fields you want to have a hiearchy.

All the best mate.

Theo

[TheoC]

Hi @joglidden2 

When you drag the Date Hiearchy into the table, press the little down arrow on the right and just select the column title. This will let you use the Date instead of the Date Hiearchy.

Hope this helps.

Theo 🙂

[rtl]

This is the solution I am looking for.  Keep the auto-hierarchy in place, but with this you can manually change back to the basic date field as-needed.  Thank you!

[joglidden2]

It does appear to be working better (and more or less as expected or hoped-for) after numerous upgrades since I originally posted.