Data types supported in tabular models

Applies to: SQL Server Analysis Services Azure Analysis Services Fabric/Power BI Premium

This article describes the data types that can be used in tabular models, and discusses the implicit conversion of data types when data is calculated or used in a Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) formula.

Data types used in tabular models

When you import data or use a value in a formula, even if the original data source contains a different data type, the data is converted to one of the following data types. Values that result from formulas also use these data types.

In general, these data types are implemented to enable accurate calculations in calculated columns, and for consistency the same restrictions apply to the rest of the data in models.

Formats used for numbers, currency, dates and times should follow the format of the locale that is specified on the client used to work with model data. You can use the formatting options in the model to control the way that the value is displayed.

* If you attempt to import data that has large numeric values, import might fail with the following error:

In-memory database error: The '<column name>' column of the '<table name>' table contains a value, '1.7976931348623157e+308', which is not supported. The operation has been canceled.

This error occurs because the model designer uses that value to represent nulls. The values in the following list are synonyms to the previous mentioned null value:

Remove the value from your data and try importing again.

Table data type

In addition, DAX uses a table data type. This data type is used by DAX in many functions, such as aggregations and time intelligence calculations. Some functions require a reference to a table; other functions return a table that can then be used as input to other functions. In some functions that require a table as input, you can specify an expression that evaluates to a table; for some functions, a reference to a base table is required. For information about the requirements of specific functions, see DAX Function Reference.

Implicit and explicit data type conversion in DAX Formulas

Each DAX function has specific requirements as to the types of data that are used as inputs and outputs. For example, some functions require integers for some arguments and dates for others; other functions require text or tables.

If the data in the column that you specify as an argument is incompatible with the data type required by the function, DAX in many cases returns an error. However, wherever possible DAX attempts to implicitly convert the data to the required data type. For example:

• You can type a number, for example "123", as a string. DAX parses the string and attempt to specify it as a number data type.

• You can add TRUE + 1 and get the result 2, because TRUE is implicitly converted to the number 1 and the operation 1+1 is performed.

• If you add values in two columns, and one value happens to be represented as text ("12") and the other as a number (12), DAX implicitly converts the string to a number and then does the addition for a numeric result. The following expression returns 44: = "22" + 22

• If you attempt to concatenate two numbers, they are presented as strings and then concatenated. The following expression returns "1234": = 12 & 34

The following table summarizes the implicit data type conversions that are performed in formulas. In general, semantic model designer behaves like Microsoft Excel, and performs implicit conversions whenever possible when required by the specified operation.

Table of implicit data conversions

The type of conversion that is performed is determined by the operator, which casts the values it requires before performing the requested operation. These tables list the operators, and indicate the conversion that is performed on each data type in the column when it is paired with the data type in the intersecting row.

Addition (+)

For example, if a real number is used in an addition operation in combination with currency data, both values are converted to REAL, and the result is returned as REAL.

Subtraction (-)

In the following table, the row header is the minuend (left side) and the column header is the subtrahend (right side):

For example, if a date is used in a subtraction operation with any other data type, both values are converted to dates, and the return value is also a date.

Multiplication (*)

For example, if an integer is combined with a real number in a multiplication operation, both numbers are converted to real numbers, and the return value is also REAL.

Division (/)

In the following table the row header is the numerator and the column header is the denominator: (Row/Column)

For example, if an integer is combined with a currency value in a division operation, both values are converted to real numbers, and the result is also a real number.

Comparison operators

Only a limited set of mixed data-type combinations for comparison operations is supported. To learn more, see DAX Operator Reference.

Handling of blanks, empty strings, and zero values

The following table summarizes the differences between DAX and in Microsoft Excel, in the way that blanks are handled:

For details on how a particular function or operator handles blanks, see the individual topics for each DAX function, in the section, DAX Function Reference.