Importing special characters in a csv file into Power BI desktop

[MelStaunton]

Hi!

I am importing a csv file with special characters (ü, ä, ß) thru a dataflow into a Power BI desktop file. Unfortunately the special characters all get changed to the same symbol � in the dataflow file.

Is there any option to define these characters while importing? I couldn't find anything to set my delimiter either, but it coincidentally? works correctly.

Thanks,

Mel

[Nathaniel_C]

Hi @MelStaunton ,
Let us check with @ImkeF , the magician of m.
Nathaniel

[MelStaunton]

Thank you!

While we are at it, I also noticed I have problems with numerical values with inconsistent decimal settings, whether it has 0,1, or 2 decimals always gets formatted from the right, regardsless of decimals.

BI: 

[ImkeF]

Hi @MelStaunton 

You have to change the locale for this: https://blog.crossjoin.co.uk/2015/05/25/working-with-international-date-and-number-formats-in-power-...

[MelStaunton]

Hi @ImkeF 

thank you, since I load in a dataflow I found the locale here and changed it to German (where the data is from). It then loads as text and I can replace commas with decimal points in Desktop.

Would you also be able to help on the various special characters being converted to the same symbol? Changing the locale didn't help with that.

[ImkeF · Accepted solution]

Hi @MelStaunton  

you have to prevent the transformation to the symbol at the source (in the dataflow). This can be done by adjusting the encoding settings: 

If the dialogue shown above doesn't pop up in the dataflow, just import the file in PBI desktop and play around with the Encoding

codes until you find a fitting one.

[MelStaunton]

Perfect. Thank you so much!