=FORMATDATE

The =FORMATDATE function formats a date value into a specific display pattern. Useful for controlling the appearance of dates in reports, forms, and workflow outputs.

Unlike the older =FORMAT function, which guessed whether a value was a date or a number, =FORMATDATE always treats the value as a date. If the value cannot be read as a date, the result is blank.

Syntax

=FORMATDATE(FormatString; Date)

Parameters

• FormatString – The pattern to format the date (see specifiers below).

• Date – The date field or value to format.

Example

=FORMATDATE(yyyyMM; [[Field: Date (Date)]])

• For a date of 4 Nov 2023, the result will return 202311.

Optional Language Setting

You can add a language/region code after the format string, separated by a comma, to display day and month names in another language:

=FORMATDATE(dddd dd MMMM, fr-FR; [[Field: Date (Date)]])

• For a date of 29 Aug 2025, the result will return vendredi 29 août.

• If no language code is provided, your account’s language setting is used (defaulting to English/US).

Common Date Format Specifiers

“d” - The day of the month, from 1 to 31.
”dd” - The day of the month, from 01 to 31.
”ddd” - The abbreviated name of the day of the week.
”dddd” - The full name of the day of the week.
”h” - The hour, using a 12-hour clock from 1 to 12.
”hh” - The hour, using a 12-hour clock from 01 to 12.
”H” - The hour, using a 24-hour clock from 0 to 23.
”HH” - The hour, using a 24-hour clock from 00 to 23.
”m” - The minute, from 0 to 59.
”mm” - The minute, from 00 to 59.
”M” - The month, from 1 to 12.
”MM” - The month, from 01 to 12.
”MMM” - The abbreviated name of the month.
”MMMM” - The full name of the month.
”s” - The second, from 0 to 59.
”ss” - The second, from 00 to 59.
”t” - The first character of the AM/PM designator.
”tt” - The AM/PM designator.
”y” - The year, from 0 to 99.
”yy” - The year, from 00 to 99.
”yyy” - The year, with a minimum of three digits.
”yyyy” - The year as a four-digit number.
”yyyyy” - The year as a five-digit number.
”:” - The time separator.
”/” - The date separator, always shown as /.

Examples

dd MMM yyyy hh:mm tt = 25 Dec 2016 12:00 PM
ddd d MMM = Fri 29 Aug
dddd dd MMMM = Friday 29 August
hh:mm:ss = 07:27:15
(M) MMM, MMMM = (8) Aug, August

Usage Notes

• Only works with date values. If the value is not a recognizable date, the result will be blank.

• To format numbers, use =FORMATNUM instead.

• Semicolons (;) separate the format string and value.

• Formula functions are case sensitive and must be in ALL CAPS.

• Replaces the date formatting behavior of the older =FORMAT function.

Keywords

FORMATDATE, format date, date formatting, display format, date pattern, day month year, workflow formulas, calculated value formatting, process field formatting, formula function