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ChemEnger's avatar
ChemEnger
Advocate V
1 year ago
Solved

Table.DuplicateColumn ColumnType ignored

I have used a Table.DuplicateColumn command to create a copy of a datetime column (Start DateTime), including specifying the type as date: #"Duplicated Start DateTime" = Table.DuplicateColumn(#"Prev...
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  • lbendlin's avatar
    lbendlin
    1 year ago

    Might be just a cosmetic issue, similar to what we had for the longest time with Table.AddColumn *

     

    Note: Specifying a Date column type is futile as Power BI doesn't actually have such a data type.  In Power BI everything is datetime behind the scenes.

     

    * on second thought you can replace Table.DuplicateColumn with Table.AddColumn.

lbendlin's avatar
lbendlin
Super User
1 year ago

Might be just a cosmetic issue, similar to what we had for the longest time with Table.AddColumn *

 

Note: Specifying a Date column type is futile as Power BI doesn't actually have such a data type.  In Power BI everything is datetime behind the scenes.

 

* on second thought you can replace Table.DuplicateColumn with Table.AddColumn.

  • ChemEnger's avatar
    ChemEnger
    Advocate V
    1 year ago
    Table.AddColumn(#"Previous Step", "Start Date", each Date.From([Start DateTime]), type date)
    Did the job equally as well - in which case, what's the benefit of DuplicateColumn and the (optional) ColumnType?!
    • lbendlin's avatar
      lbendlin
      Super User
      1 year ago

      It's what we call "syntax sugar" - a convenience function that is equivalent (or should be) to a more atomic function.