Type conversions are functions that allow us to convert fields or a string from one data type to another.
DATE
Converts the argument into a date.
Eg DATE([Order Date]) converts all the order dates into dates.
DATE(“July 1 2004”) and DATE(“01/07/2004”) both return 1 July 2004.
As shown above, if the argument is a string, this must be enclosed by speech marks or quotation marks. If the argument is a field, this is not necessary.
DATETIME
Converts the argument into a datetime.
Eg DATETIME([Order Date]) converts all the order dates into datetimes.
If there is no time in the argument, it will return a datetime with 00:00:00 as the time.
Eg DATE(“July 1 2004 11:15”) returns 1 July 2004 11:15:00.
DATE(“July 1 2004”) returns 1 July 2004 00:00:00.
As shown above, if the argument is a string, this must be enclosed by speech marks or quotation marks. If the argument is a field, this is not necessary.
FLOAT
A float is a number with decimal points.
The float function returns the argument in float format.
Eg. FLOAT(3)=3.000
STRING
Returns the argument as a string.
INTEGER
This function rounds the argument to the closest integer (whole number) towards zero.
Eg INT(3.6) returns 3
INT(3.3) returns 3
INT(-3.6) returns -3
INT(-3.3) returns -3
MAKEDATE
Constructs a date from a specified year, month and day of the month.
Eg MAKEDATE(2023, 3, 30) returns 30 March 2023.
MAKEDATETIME
Constructs a datetime from a specified date expression and time expression.
The date expression and time expression must each be enclosed by # and separated with a comma.
Eg MAKEDATETIME(# 30 3 2023#, #11:15#) returns 30/03/2023 11:15:00
MAKETIME
Constructs a time from specified hours, minutes and seconds.
Tableau does not hold time as its own data type so a date either needs to be attached to the time, or Tableau will attach a date to it.
Eg MAKETIME(2, 15, 30) returns 30/12/1899 02:15:30.