Embedded CE (CRM) report changes data type depending on the data

[thibaug]

Hi,

We're running into a strange issue while embedding a Power BI report in D365 CE (CRM). We're following the info here. And everything works well except in one case.

We have a string column in CE which has a corresponding column on the Power BI side that is also a string. As long as the content of the column on the CE side is a string, the filter works! But if the column contain a number on the CE side, then it looks like something is converting the value on the fly and Power BI receives a Number. 

So,

Account# - CE (CRM) Data type	Content	Account# - Power BI Data type	Content	Result of Filter
String	1234a	String	1234a	Works
String	1234	String	1234	Error
String	1234	Number	1234	Works

Is there something we're missing? Is there a way to specify a data type in the filter XML? 

Thanks in advance!!

Gilles

[thibaug · Accepted solution]

Ok, so looks like we've figure it out. Escaping the $a in the filter works. But this appears contradict what Microsoft says in the article. 

Or am I misunderstanding? 

• String fields don't have escaped quotes in the Power BI filter. Below, notice values has [\"$a\"] rather than [$a].

{ "Filter": "[{ \"$schema\":\"basic\", \"target\":{ \"table\":\"My Active Accounts\", \"column\":\"Account Name\" }, \"operator\":\"In\", \"values\":[$a, $b], \"filterType\":1 }]", "Alias": { "$a": "firstname", "$b":"lastname" } }