Optimization by choosing good data type

[bboy0009]

Hi guys,

I am analyzing a PIBX and the previous developer has created a lot of steps to change the alphanumeric type to text. I think it's not mandatory to the restitution so I would like to delete them but I has a fear that could impact something. 

What do you think guys ? 

Thank you 

[v-yueyunzh-msft]

Hi , @bboy0009 

According to your description, you want to change the alphanumeric type to text and you are afraid if it may cause some error. Right?

First of all, for this case, you first need to see in Power Query if there are conversion issues related to this column, and whether it needs to be converted before it can be used.

Then you need to determine what the format of your field in the data source is, whether it meets your business logic needs, if it is characters + numbers, then Text type is no problem.

Thank you for your time and sharing, and thank you for your support and understanding of PowerBI! 

Best Regards,

Aniya Zhang

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly

[bboy0009]

Hi

You understood the inverse of what I said.

There is already steps to change alphanumeric to text and I would like to delete them but I have a fear that after the delete, there could be some impact.

If not, if I had a choice between alphanumeric or text, what is the best to choose ? 

[v-yueyunzh-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi, @bboy0009 

According to your description, your column is alphanumeral, if your column contains strings and numbers, I recommend that you use the Text format, because the data in this case exists strings, and we should use Text to identify it. In Power BI, this type should also be treated as text.

Whether it will have an impact if you want to convert the format needs to be judged comprehensively based on your business logic and existing operations.

Thank you for your time and sharing, and thank you for your support and understanding of PowerBI! 

Best Regards,

Aniya Zhang

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly

[HotChilli]

Impossible to say without seeing the details.

Maybe think about what problem you are trying to solve.  Do you have a performance or size problem?  Or is there complicated dax that you can simplify by using a numeric type rather than text?