Usage

Definition

The named_value_format parameter lets you create and save a custom format that can be applied to multiple dimensions and measures.

Custom formats in Looker are created and used in several steps:

1. First, you use named_value_format in your model file to declare a name for your new custom format. This name must be a string without any spaces.
2. Next, you use the value_format subparameter under named_value_format to define the formatting you want by providing an Excel-style format string.
3. Finally, apply this custom format to dimensions and measures by referencing it in the value_format_name parameter at the field level.

You can define more than one custom format in a model, as shown in the examples below.

Common value_format formatting strings

The formatting used with the value_format parameter is the same as formatting used in the Value Format field in visualizations, except that the value_format parameter requires the formatting string to be enclosed in double quotes. See the Column chart options documentation page for information about value formats in visualizations.

You can read Excel’s complete guide about how to specify these formats in their documentation. However, at this time, date formatting, color formatting, and hexadecimal conversion are not supported in Looker.

Some of the most common formatting options are shown below. Some special characters, such as international currency symbols, must be enclosed in double quotes.

strict_value_format overrides the number_format user attribute

Typically, the number formatting set in the number_format user attribute is applied on top of the format created with named_value_format. However, if you set the optional strict_number_format subparameter to yes, the formatting from number_format will not be applied, and fields will retain the formatting from named_value_format. For an example, and to learn more, visit the Localizing number formatting documentation page.

Default formatting options

If you prefer to apply one of Looker’s built-in value formats, you can choose from the formats listed on the Default format names section of the value_format_name parameter’s documentation page. See that page for instructions on using value_format_name to apply built-in formats.

Examples

Create a custom format called euro_in_thousands that looks like €1.23K:

Prevent the number_formatting user attribute from affecting the euro_in_thousands format:

Also see the Localizing number formatting documentation page for another example.

Create a custom format called usd_in_millions that looks like $1.23M and a format called phone_number that looks like (123) 456-7890: