Forum Discussion
Download in CSV format does not match the format shown in Power BI Matrix visual
When you export to CSV, Power BI exports the underlying data values, not the formatted values shown in the visual. CSV is a plain text format, so things like currency symbols, thousand separators, percentages, or display units (K/M/B) are not preserved.
If you need the exported file to match what users see in the report, consider these options:
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Export to Excel instead of CSV, which preserves formatting more reliably.
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Create a formatted measure or column using FORMAT() if the formatted value itself must be exported.
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For full control over export layout and formatting, consider using a Paginated Report, which is designed for pixel-perfect exports (CSV, Excel, PDF, etc.).
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I’ve run into this before, and it can be a bit frustrating. The issue usually happens because Power BI's visuals are more dynamic, and they might format or aggregate data in a way that doesn’t directly translate to a CSV download. When you download the data as CSV, it’s typically flattened to match the underlying table model, which might not preserve the same formatting or hierarchy you see in the Matrix visual.
One workaround is to make sure you're using Export data options from the visual itself rather than exporting the whole report. That way, it’ll give you a CSV that’s closer to the actual data structure, but keep in mind it won’t replicate the formatting like row/column grouping or totals.
It’s just one of those quirks with Power BI but it’s good to keep in mind when working with data exports!