DTOC Function
Syntax
dim Formatted_Date as C = DTOC(Date_Value D [, Format as C [, Localized as L]])
dim Formatted_Date as C = DTOC(Date_Value as T [, Format as C])
Arguments
- Date_ValueDate Time
A variable containing a date or date time value.
- FormatLogical
Default = "MM/DD/YYYY". Refer to Predefined Date Formats below.
- localizedLogical
Default = .f.. If true, the date is localized using the regional language setting. This only applies to formats where the name of the month is printed.
Returns
- Formatted_DateCharacter
The Date_Value formatted into a character string.
Description
Converts a date into a character value in the form 'MM/DD/YYYY'.
Discussion
DTOC() returns a character string in the specified Format for the specified Date or Date_Time value. DTOC() is useful for indexing a table when month order is more important than chronological date order (which orders first by year, then month, then day).
If you have a multi-field index involving both date and character fields, use the CDATE() function if you want a chronological date order.
Predefined Date Formats
The following formats can be used with the DTOC() function.
- Format Code
Meaning
- 1-
12-31-2015
- 2-
21-12-2015
- 1/
12/31/2015
- 2/
31/12/2015
- 3
31 December 2015
- 4
December 31, 2015
- 8
December 31st, 2015
- 5-
12-15
- 6-
12-31-15
- 7-
31-12-15
- 5/
12/15
- 6/
12/31/15
- 7/
31/12/15
- 9-
31-Dec-15
- 10
31 Dec 2015
- 11-
15-12-31
- 12-
2015-12-31
- 11/
15/12/31
- 12/
2015/12/31
- 11.
15.12.31
- 12.
2015.12.31
- 3C
31 DECEMBER 2015
- 4C
DECEMBER 31, 2015
- 8C
DECEMBER 31ST, 2015
- 9C-
31-DEC-15
- 10C
31 DEC 2015
Examples
dim now as D
now = now()
? now
= {12/12/2017}
? dtoc(now)
= "12/12/2017"
? dtoc(now,"12.")
= "2017.12.12"
? dtoc(now,"10",.f.)
= "12 Dec 2017"
' System Locale is set to France (Belgium):
? dtoc(now,"10",.t.)
= "12 déc 2017"
dim now2 as T
now2 = now()
? now2
= 12/12/2017 10:58:20 01 am
? dtoc(now2)
= "12/12/2017"
? dtoc(now2,"6-")
= "12-12-17"
? dtoc(now2,"4C",.f.)
= "DECEMBER 12, 2017"
' System Locale is set to France (Belgium):
? dtoc(now2,"4C",.t.)
= "DéCEMBRE 12, 2017"See Also