In addition to captions, format strings can also be localized. When you select a format string for a measure from the Schema Element Properties View, a format string row appears under the Type column for Localization in the Schema Element Properties View. When you add a language, you can add a localized version for the format string.
Format String for Localization
A format string that begins with a dollar sign is a placeholder for the operating system locale-specific currency character. In other words, the visual currency character changes as the operating system’s locale changes. For example, a USA English locale operating system uses a dollar sign ($) currency character, and a French (France) locale operating system uses the Euro (€) currency character. If you do not want the operating system’s locale to override the intended currency character, prefix the character with a backslash such as \$#,##0.00 or \$#,##0.
Allowing the locale to change your currency character does not do any mathematical currency conversion. Manually changing your format string from $#,##0 to €#.##0 also does not cause mathematical currency conversion.
For useful information on format strings see the following:
- Read Appendix D in MDX Solutions, 2nd edition (Spofford and Harinath 2006).
- Search for format string contents (MDX) in the Microsoft Developer Network Library at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/.