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Importing Large Number as a String Results in Scientific Notation


Published: 13 Nov 2015
Last Modified Date: 07 Mar 2024

Issue

When importing a large number from Excel as a string, Tableau Desktop automatically converts these numbers into scientific notation format.

Environment

  • Tableau Desktop
  • Excel

Resolution

Option 1

Import the field as a number field rather than a string.

Option 2

Force Excel to recognize the numbers as text using the TEXT() function in Excel. For example:
TEXT(<cell to convert>, "@")

Option 3

In the Excel sheet, set the target field as TEXT

User-added image

and then create another column ("Test2" here) with function CLEAN().

  User-added image
Use TYPE() function ("Type Test 2" here) to confirm all the row values have the same type as 2.

Cause

When importing large numbers as strings, Tableau Desktop forces these numbers into scientific notation.

Additional Information

TEXT function in Microsoft Office Support.

Excel "Text" function does not work as expected. Still some rows are considered to be number even set as "Text". As a result, Tableau receives an exponential string.

 

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