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Issue with decimal numbers when importing a CSV file with Power Query

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Are you experiencing issues with importing CSV files into Excel using Power Query, particularly with decimal numbers? Many users face challenges when numeric columns, especially those with decimal values, appear distorted after import. For instance, in European formats, a correct number like 155.746,88 may be incorrectly transformed into 15.574.688,00. This disruption often results from how Power Query interprets decimal and thousand separators. Additionally, if column data types default to "Text," it complicates any attempts to convert them into numerical formats.

So in my organization we have a database with CSV files that different departments need from time to time. Lately we have had some problems when importing this data to Excel with Power Query. It seems like the numeric columns, specially the ones with decimal numbers, get all f*** up when importing the files this way. For example (I am in Europe and we use commas for decimals and dots for the thousands):

-Correct number: 155.746,88

-CSV imported: 15.574.688,00

As you can see, for some reason it seems that all the dots and commas are eliminated, then the ,00 decimal is added at the end of the number and then the number is "recalculated" based on these new decimal position. I can't change it "automatically" with power query because the numbers that don't have decimals are affected but don't change in value:

-Correct number: 1.420

-CSV imported number: 1.420,00

Besides, in Power Query the data type of the columns affected appears in "Text", and when I change it to any numerical value (don't matter if it is decimal number, whole number, currency...) it gives me an error.

Any ideas on why this happens and how to fix it?

Thank you and have a good day!

submitted by /u/Almogaver95
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