Fix a Line Chart from Power Query Date and Time Data in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to plot multiple temperature data sets from a Power Query table in a WPS Spreadsheets line chart and resolve why the chart cannot plot the data correctly.
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has loaded a Power Query table containing Date/Time values and multiple temperature columns, and wants to display them as a line chart over time.
- Observed behavior
- The date column is interpreted as text, so the line chart cannot plot the temperature series correctly or the date axis does not sort as expected.
Open the WPS Spreadsheets workbook that contains the Power Query table and make sure the query is visible in the Queries & Connections pane. Identify the exact date column and the temperature columns that should be used for the line chart.
Set the Power Query Date Column to Date/Time and Reload the Line Chart
Use this solution when the source date column is being interpreted as text, which prevents the line chart from plotting temperature values over a proper time axis.
Power Query may import source date/time strings as text if the locale or type detection is not explicit. Changing the column type inside Power Query, instead of formatting cells after loading, ensures the corrected Date/Time values are stored in the query output.
In WPS Spreadsheets, go to the Data tab and select Queries & Connections to open the workbook query list, then right-click the query that supplies the temperature data and choose Edit or Open Power Query Editor.
In the Power Query Editor, click the header of the date column that currently imports as text.
On the Transform or Home tab, open the Data Type drop-down list and choose Date/Time, or right-click the column and choose Change Type > Date/Time.
If the values still do not convert, right-click the date column and choose Change Type > Using Locale, set the data type to Date/Time, and choose English (United States) or the locale that matches the source date format.
Click Close & Load to return the corrected table to the worksheet. Select the refreshed table or range, go to Insert, and insert a Line chart; then confirm that the Date/Time column is used as the axis and the temperature columns are plotted as series.
Fix Power Query Date/Time Charts in WPS Spreadsheets
Use WPS Spreadsheets to correct Power Query date/time imports and create a reliable line chart for multiple temperature series without switching to another Office suite.
- 1. Open your workbook in WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and open the Excel-compatible workbook that contains the Power Query table.
- 2. Edit the Power Query date column: Go to Data > Queries & Connections, right-click the query, choose Edit, and set the date column to Date/Time with the matching locale.
- 3. Close and load the query: In the Power Query Editor, click Close & Load to write the corrected Date/Time values back to the worksheet.
- 4. Insert the line chart: Select the refreshed table and go to Insert > Line chart, then set the Date/Time column as the horizontal axis and the temperature columns as the series.
- 5. Refresh when source data changes: Use Data > Refresh All to reload the query and keep the line chart updated with new Date/Time and temperature values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Power Query date column importing as text in WPS Spreadsheets?
Power Query often imports dates as text when the source format or locale is not detected. In the Power Query Editor, change the column type to Date/Time, and if needed use Change Type > Using Locale to match the source format, such as English (United States).
How do I open Power Query in WPS Spreadsheets?
Go to the Data tab and open Queries & Connections, then right-click the query you want to edit and choose Edit or Open Power Query Editor.
How do I create a line chart from a Power Query table after fixing the date column?
After Close & Load refreshes the table, select the Date/Time column and the temperature columns, go to Insert, and choose a Line chart. Set the Date/Time field as the axis and the temperature fields as the series.
Do I need to reload the query after changing the date type?
Yes. The line chart only sees the corrected values after you click Close & Load or refresh the query connection. Existing charts may need to be re-selected or recreated from the refreshed table.
Can WPS Spreadsheets open Excel Power Query workbooks?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheets reads and writes Excel .xlsx workbooks and can work with Power Query tables in a familiar spreadsheet environment, so you can fix date/time charting issues without losing Excel compatibility.
