---
schema_version: "1"
id: caa7ebaa8c797453644e1f2017e461415fee33f15e7c7572792b36b9e2ab8cbb
title: FORMAT() Function Workarounds in Tableau
collection: tableau
version: current
locale: en-gb
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/current/en-gb/pro/desktop/format_fields.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/format_fields.htm
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: feff2d07f079875692d2f55749bc8660ad2a1be80eadd317d50f9fe818fd65d0
description: Use workarounds for formatting fields since Tableau has no FORMAT() function.
---
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# FORMAT() Function Workarounds in Tableau

Tableau has no FORMAT() function for formatting fields, but it does provide a variety of means to change the structure and appearance of fields in a workbook:

- Geographic fields, see [Assign Geographic Roles](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/maps_geographicroles.htm).
- Date or number fields, see [Set the default number format](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/datafields_fieldproperties.htm#DefFormat).
    - Custom date formats, see [Custom Date Formats](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/dates_custom_date_formats.htm).
- Symbols and conventions that you can use to specify field formats, see [Literal expression syntax](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/functions_operators.htm#literals).
- Numbers and null values, see [Format Numbers and Null Values](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/formatting_specific_numbers.htm).

Tableau also provides a range of string functions that you can use to customise the appearance of string fields in a view. See [String Functions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/functions_functions_string.htm).