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Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

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Christiaan B. on 29 Aug 2017 05:15:12

Typically date & time information is available in UTC (if not then put it to UTC at source), you just want it rendered in the users' locale/time zone at reporting time.

Adding an option to format datetimezone fields in the users' locale/time zone (based on the user account settings) would probably solve 90+% of requirements for rendering time zone information.

Currently MS does not provide for showing offset information (or local time zone) as you only have date/time format options, but in the query editor you can set type to datetimezone which show offset info so it's clearly available - just the rendering that lacks.

Not having this functionality is forcing people to resort to hacks like using DateTimeZone.AddZone () with hardcoded time offsets - not scalable where DST is involved. Current workarounds obviously only work as long as the viewer is in the designated time zone and does not scale across a global audience.

Comments (36)
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Raj Rao on 01 Nov 2021 19:08:52

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

This functionality is sorely needed, especially when your PBI reports are used globally. Otherwise, what is the point of storing data with DatTime+Zone?

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Shaun Wilkinson on 06 Jul 2021 22:50:22

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Ridiculous this is still an issue - having to manually calculate offsets and then continually update those offsets to cater for daylight saving time or different regions.

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Justin Jackson on 24 Jun 2021 17:42:25

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Please implement!

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Power BI User on 06 Jul 2020 00:14:27

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Come on Microsoft, it is ridiculous that this is not available! Why can't the online server use the local time of the person running the report! Especially if the report is to be used in multiple timezone!

Please get this fixed ASAP.

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Power BI User on 06 Jul 2020 00:10:39

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Here's a hacky workaround to handle offset with DST in the PBI service:
https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Service/Handling-local-time-zone-with-Daylight-Savings-in-Power-BI/m-p/991812#M91044

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Power BI User on 06 Jul 2020 00:09:48

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Its ridiculous that this isn't available in Power BI.

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Shyamsundar Kommajosyula on 06 Jul 2020 00:04:05

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

We had a similar requirement for customers who are spread across 6 different timezones. It was a hell lot of endeavor to translate each and every date column using switchzone () functions. Only to know that it fails during DST.
I can't comprehend for what silly reason does MS don't include this obvious and critical feature when all the ingredients are at place with herself
This is hampering work and minimizing customer experience
Looking forward for this soon...

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Raymond Boone on 06 Jul 2020 00:00:21

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Very surprised this still isn't built into Power BI or Power Query.

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Power BI User on 05 Jul 2020 23:55:55

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

This is something that pretty much exists everywhere apart from Power BI!
Just choosing which timezone is local is what we indeed need. Either choosing a report wide time zone, OR being able to specify in the DAX query which time zone I want this date to switch to. For example, from UTC datetime to UK datetime.

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Power BI User on 05 Jul 2020 23:52:12

RE: Allow formatting datetimezone fields to user local timezone

Truly absurd that this is still an issue.