Date formats are used when defining source fields. All available date formats are displayed in the Date Format list. Different date formats cannot be added.
Date Formats with Flat ASCII Files
When opening a flat text file, you use the Define Source Fields Dialog (Source, Define Source Fields)
Date Formats with CSV Files
Date Formats can be set using the Source Field Summary Dialog (Data, Source Field Summary)
Date Format Element Description
The following elements are found in the date formats used when defining source fields.
Element | Meaning | Example | Interpretation |
d | A day. Can be one or two digits. | 2 or 02 | The second day of the month |
dd | A day. Must be two digits. | 02 or 12 | The second or twelfth day of the month |
m | A month. Can be one or two digits. | 2 or 11 | February or November |
mm | A month. Must be two digits. | 02 or 11 | February or November |
mmm | A month as a 3-letter short form. Must be in English. | feb or jun | February or June |
mmmm | A month spelled out in full. Must be in English. | February | February |
yy | A year expressed in two digits. Assumes a range from 1950 to 2049. | 77 or 01 | 1977 or 2001 |
yyyy | A year expressed as a 4-digit number. | 2011 | 2011 |
p | A period expressed as a single digit from 1 to 4. Used to specify the period for semi-annual and quarterly series. | 3 | Third quarter |
pp | A period expressed as two digits from 01 to 04. Used to specify the period for semi-annual and quarterly series. | 02 | Second half or quarter |
H | Half-yearly (semiannual). Used with p. Must be upper case. | 2H2012 | Second half of 2012 |
Q | Quarterly. Used with p. Must be upper case. | 03Q2012 | Third quarter of 2012 |
$W | Weekly. Does not appear in the source file. | dmyyyy$W | Indicates that the date is weekly. |
$S | Semiannual. Does not appear in the source file. | yyyypp$S | Indicates that the date is semiannual. |
$Q | Quarterly. Does not appear in the source file. | yyyypp$Q | Indicates that the date is quarterly. |