Formatting date-time values for display or defining the pattern how strings shall be parsed by Redbex into date-time values (e.g. during import of data) is tricky, since the number of different date and time formats is nearly endless. E.g. February, 11th 2016 could be written as 11/2/2016 (USA) or as 2.11.2016 (German) or as 2016-02-11 (Sweden).
To give you maximum flexibility for formatting and parsing date-time values Redbex uses date-time formatting strings. In many places where a date and time value is presented (e.g. in a chart, on a report or in an export file) you can define how that date-time value will be formatted by defining a formatting string. In many places where Redbex reads date-time strings (e.g in import definitions) you have the possibility to define how the software shall parse that string to produce a valid date-time value by defining a formatting string.
Date-time format strings are blue prints that define how a date-time (or date-time-offset) value shall be formatted for display or how a string shall be parsed to get a date-time value from it.
When applying date time format strings for displaying or reading date time the currently set Culture plays an important role, it defines the used date separator, time separator, AM/PM designators, day names and month names etc. Therefore in most places where you can define date-time format strings you can also define a culture.
There are two types of format strings standard format strings and custom format strings. Standard format strings are single letter stings that are shortcuts for specific standardized date-time representations according to the current culture. See table 2 for a listing of all available standard format strings.
Custom format strings are all format strings longer than one character that allow the free definition of nearly any date time format. See table 3 for a listing of format specifiers that can be used in custom format strings.
Note that standard format strings are only single letter strings and cannot be combined with other format strings. Any formatting string longer than one character will always be interpreted as custom format string.
Table 1 shows examples how a given date time value is presented with different format strings in the EN-US culture.
Date time value |
Format string |
Result when displaying with format string |
2014-02-11 08:34:12.1234567 |
d |
2/11/2014 |
D |
February 02, 2014 |
|
MMMM dd, yyyy (custom format string) |
February 02, 2014 |
|
ddd d MMM (custom format string) |
Tue 11 Feb |
|
dddd dd MMMM (custom format string) |
Tuesday 11 February |
|
hh:mm:ss.f (custom format string) |
08:34:12.1 |
Table 1: Examples of date & time format strings
Standard Format string |
Description |
Examples |
d |
Short date pattern. The d standard format specifier represents a custom date and time format string that is defined by the currently set culture. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 6/15/2009 (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15/06/2009 (fr-FR) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009/06/15 (ja-JP) |
D |
Long date pattern. The D standard format specifier represents a custom date and time format string that is defined by the currently set culture. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Monday, June 15, 2009 (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15 июня 2009 г. (ru-RU) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Montag, 15. Juni 2009 (de-DE) |
f |
Full date/time pattern (short time). |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Monday, June 15, 2009 1:45 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> den 15 juni 2009 13:45 (sv-SE) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Δευτέρα, 15 Ιουνίου 2009 1:45 μμ (el-GR) |
F |
Full date/time pattern (long time).
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Monday, June 15, 2009 1:45:30 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> den 15 juni 2009 13:45:30 (sv-SE) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Δευτέρα, 15 Ιουνίου 2009 1:45:30 μμ (el-GR) |
g |
General date/time pattern (short time).
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 6/15/2009 1:45 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15/06/2009 13:45 (es-ES) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009/6/15 13:45 (zh-CN) |
G |
General date/time pattern (long time).
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15/06/2009 13:45:30 (es-ES) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009/6/15 13:45:30 (zh-CN) |
M, m |
Month/day pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> June 15 (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15. juni (da-DK) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15 Juni (id-ID) |
O, o |
Round-trip date/time pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009-06-15T13:45:30.0900000 |
R, r |
RFC1123 pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:45:30 GMT |
s |
Sortable date/time pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009-06-15T13:45:30 |
t |
Short time pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 1:45 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 13:45 (hr-HR) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 01:45 م (ar-EG) |
T |
Long time pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 1:45:30 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 13:45:30 (hr-HR) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 01:45:30 م (ar-EG) |
u |
Universal sortable date/time pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009-06-15 20:45:30Z |
U |
Universal full date/time pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Monday, June 15, 2009 8:45:30 PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> den 15 juni 2009 20:45:30 (sv-SE) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Δευτέρα, 15 Ιουνίου 2009 8:45:30 μμ (el-GR) |
Y, y |
Year month pattern.
|
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> June, 2009 (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> juni 2009 (da-DK) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Juni 2009 (id-ID) |
Any other single character |
Interpreted as custom format string. |
Table 2: Standard date time formatting strings
Format specifier |
Description |
Examples |
d |
The day of the month, from 1 through 31. The d custom format specifier represents the day of the month as a number from 1 through 31. A single-digit day is formatted without a leading zero. |
6/1/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 1 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15 |
dd |
The day of the month, from 01 through 31. The dd custom format string represents the day of the month as a number from 01 through 31. A single-digit day is formatted with a leading zero. |
6/1/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 01 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 15 |
ddd |
The abbreviated name of the day of the week. The ddd custom format specifier represents the abbreviated name of the day of the week. The abbreviation will reflect the culture setting of the Application Server. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Mon (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Пн (ru-RU) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> lun. (fr-FR) |
dddd |
The full name of the day of the week. The dddd custom format specifier (plus any number of additional d specifiers) represents the full name of the day of the week. The abbreviation will reflect the culture setting of the Application Server. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Monday (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> понедельник (ru-RU) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> lundi (fr-FR) |
f |
The tenths of a second in a date and time value. The f custom format specifier represents the most significant digit of the seconds fraction; that is, it represents the tenths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617 -> 6 6/15/2009 13:45:30.050 -> 0 |
ff |
The hundredths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617 -> 61 6/15/2009 13:45:30.005 -> 00 |
fff |
The milliseconds in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617 -> 617 6/15/2009 13:45:30.0005 -> 000 |
ffff |
The ten thousandths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.6175 -> 6175 6/15/2009 13:45:30.00005 -> 0000 |
fffff |
The hundred thousandths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.61754 -> 61754 6/15/2009 13:45:30.000005 -> 00000 |
ffffff |
The millionths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617542 -> 617542 6/15/2009 13:45:30.0000005 -> 000000 |
fffffff |
The ten millionths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.6175425 -> 6175425 6/15/2009 13:45:30.0001150 -> 0001150 |
F |
If non-zero, the tenths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617 -> 6 6/15/2009 13:45:30.050 -> (no output) |
FF |
If non-zero, the hundredths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617 -> 61 6/15/2009 13:45:30.005 -> (no output) |
FFF |
If non-zero, the milliseconds in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617 -> 617 6/15/2009 13:45:30.0005 -> (no output) |
FFFF |
If non-zero, the ten thousandths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/1/2009 13:45:30.5275 -> 5275 6/15/2009 13:45:30.00005 -> (no output) |
FFFFF |
If non-zero, the hundred thousandths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.61754 -> 61754 6/15/2009 13:45:30.000005 -> (no output) |
FFFFFF |
If non-zero, the millionths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.617542 -> 617542 6/15/2009 13:45:30.0000005 -> (no output) |
FFFFFFF |
If non-zero, the ten millionths of a second in a date and time value. |
6/15/2009 13:45:30.6175425 -> 6175425 6/15/2009 13:45:30.0001150 -> 000115 |
g, gg |
The period or era. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> A.D. |
h |
The hour, using a 12-hour clock from 1 to 12. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 AM -> 1 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 1 |
hh |
The hour, using a 12-hour clock from 01 to 12. More information: The hh Custom Format Specifier. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 AM -> 01 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 01 |
H |
The hour, using a 24-hour clock from 0 to 23. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 AM -> 1 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 13 |
HH |
The hour, using a 24-hour clock from 00 to 23. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 AM -> 01 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 13 |
K |
Time zone information. |
With DateTime values: 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM, Kind Unspecified -> 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM, Kind Utc -> Z 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM, Kind Local -> -07:00 (depends on local computer settings) With DateTimeOffset values: 6/15/2009 1:45:30 AM -07:00 --> -07:00 6/15/2009 8:45:30 AM +00:00 --> +00:00 |
m |
The minute, from 0 through 59. |
6/15/2009 1:09:30 AM -> 9 6/15/2009 1:09:30 PM -> 9 |
mm |
The minute, from 00 through 59. |
6/15/2009 1:09:30 AM -> 09 6/15/2009 1:09:30 PM -> 09 |
M |
The month, from 1 through 12.. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 6 |
MM |
The month, from 01 through 12. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 06 |
MMM |
The abbreviated name of the month. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Jun (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> juin (fr-FR) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> Jun (zu-ZA) |
MMMM |
The full name of the month. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> June (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> juni (da-DK) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> uJuni (zu-ZA) |
s |
The second, from 0 through 59. More information: The s Custom Format Specifier. |
6/15/2009 1:45:09 PM -> 9 |
ss |
The second, from 00 through 59. |
6/15/2009 1:45:09 PM -> 09 |
t |
The first character of the AM/PM designator. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> P (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 午 (ja-JP) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> (fr-FR) |
tt |
The AM/PM designator. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> PM (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 午後 (ja-JP) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> (fr-FR) |
y |
The year, from 0 to 99. More information: The y Custom Format Specifier. |
1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM -> 1 1/1/0900 12:00:00 AM -> 0 1/1/1900 12:00:00 AM -> 0 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 9 |
yy |
The year, from 00 to 99. |
1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM -> 01 1/1/0900 12:00:00 AM -> 00 1/1/1900 12:00:00 AM -> 00 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 09 |
yyy |
The year, with a minimum of three digits.
|
1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM -> 001 1/1/0900 12:00:00 AM -> 900 1/1/1900 12:00:00 AM -> 1900 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009 |
yyyy |
The year as a four-digit number.
|
1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM -> 0001 1/1/0900 12:00:00 AM -> 0900 1/1/1900 12:00:00 AM -> 1900 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 2009 |
yyyyy |
The year as a five-digit number.
|
1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM -> 00001 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> 02009 |
z |
Hours offset from UTC, with no leading zeros.. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -07:00 -> -7 |
zz |
Hours offset from UTC, with a leading zero for a single-digit value. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -07:00 -> -07 |
zzz |
Hours and minutes offset from UTC. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -07:00 -> -07:00 |
: |
The time separator. (according to the set Culture) |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> : (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> . (it-IT) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> : (ja-JP) |
/ |
The date separator. (according to the set Culture) |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> / (en-US) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> - (ar-DZ) 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM -> . (tr-TR) |
string 'string' |
Literal string delimiter. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM (arr: h:m t) -> arr: 1:45 P 6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM ('arr:' h:m t) -> arr: 1:45 P |
% |
Defines the following character as a custom format specifier. (especially useful if the format string consists of only one letter but you want that letter to be interpreted as custom format string). |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM (%h) -> 1 |
\ |
The escape character. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 PM (h \h) -> 1 h |
Any other character |
The character is copied to the result string unchanged. |
6/15/2009 1:45:30 AM (arr hh:mm t) -> arr 01:45 A |
Table 3: Format specifiers that can be used in custom date & time format strings
