format date/timestamp to text(a, template b, [Locale c], [Timezone d], [Errorhandling e])

Group

Date Functions


Creates a formatted text of a date/timestamp a using date template b. Optional parameter c can contain a Locale. In addition, a time zone can be specified the date should be changed to before doing the formatting. If no time zone is specified, the date's time zone is used.

Description of Parameters


Parameter

Description

a

Date/Timestamp. See also parameter e.

b

Date template.

c

(optional) Locale. Default: System Locale. Note: Use the three dots to select a value.

d

(optional) The time zone the date should be changed to before formatting. Default: The date's time zone.

Important note : The abbreviated forms should be avoided because some of them have been used for different time zones, making it impossible to ensure the usage of the correct one. Java only supports these forms for backwards compatibility reasons. After an update of the Java Virtual Machine or the operating system, it is possible that a profile returns a different result. Allowed abbreviations: GMT, UTC, SYSTEM (local time zone of server).

Examples:

America/New_York

Europe/Berlin

e

(optional) Error handling if a is not a valid Date/Timestamp value or a Date/Timestamp with Empty Flag (see 'hidden values' there). Default: <empty text>

Value of e

Behaviour

empty

The result of the function is an empty string with set Empty Flag.

error

Termination with error message.

now

The current time as the timestamp is used for a.

<empty text>

The current time as the timestamp is used for a.

<any other text>

The text in e will be the return value of the function.

Examples


Parameter a

b

c

d

e

Result

2005-01-05

yyyy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss




2005/01/05 00:00:00

2007-12-31

ww/yyyy




01/2007

2007-12-31

ww/YYYY




01/2008 (in first calendar week 2008)

2012-12-10

dd-MMM-yyyy, EEEE

de_DE



10-Dez-2012, Montag

2012-12-10

dd-MMM-yyyy, EEEE

en_US



10-Dec-2012, Monday

2012-12-10

dd-MMM-yyyy, EEEE

fr_FR



10-déc.-2012, lundi

2012-12-10

dd-MMM-yyyy, EEEE

ru



10-дек-2012, понедельник

2012-12-10 23:25:12

EEEE, dd.MMM.yyyy hh:mm:ss a

de_DE



Montag, 10.Dez.2012 11:25:12 PM

2012-12-10 23:25:12

E, dd MMMM yyyy HH:mm:ss

fr_FR



lun., 10 décembre 2012 23:25:12

2012-12-10 23:25:12

W3C


Europe/Berlin


2012-12-10T23:25:12+01:00

2012-12-10 23:25:12

w3cdtf


GMT


2012-12-10T22:25:12Z