# Date Formatter

[Watch a video about using the date formatter in our tutorial page](https://www.advizorsolutions.com/Help/Central/7.0/).

The Date Formatter can be used to generate new date/time fields for a dataset without having to manually edit the data source. New date/time fields are created in the project using one of 29 format options, based on data values from an existing field with a DateTime data type.

![](https://1916279106-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-Lf5YcsNySU3Og8Ms9rA%2F-Lf5ZCyAZIyYzxDLDEKS%2F-Lf5ZzJazX4hmYZA6jPQ%2FDate-Formatter-Screenshot.PNG?generation=1558109747851919\&alt=media)

The Date Formatter can be very useful for generating rollups (e.g., week, quarter, month, year) from a detailed date format. However, be aware that the result data type is (currently) a String, not a Date, so use a format that will sort properly and be aware that some charts that accept dates do not accept string (e.g., Time Table x axis). The formats that will sort properly are marked with a "check" in the "Sortable" column.

To access the **Date Formatter**, select Date Formatter button ![](https://1916279106-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-Lf5YcsNySU3Og8Ms9rA%2F-Lf5ZCyAZIyYzxDLDEKS%2F-Lf5ZzJf-ufr8ilwG9x4%2F70-Date-Formatter.png?generation=1558109770504854\&alt=media) from the Author Ribbon or click the Date Formatter button ![](https://1916279106-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-Lf5YcsNySU3Og8Ms9rA%2F-Lf5ZCyAZIyYzxDLDEKS%2F-Lf5ZzJh379J9clf3L0A%2FDate%20Parser%20Button.PNG?generation=1558109747586759\&alt=media) in the [Project Workshop](https://help.advizorsolutions.com/v7.2+/using-advizor/author-ribbon/condition-data/project-workshop-view) toolbar. Select a table from the **Table** pulldown list.Select a **DateTime** field from the pulldown list. **Only fields with the DateTime data type will appear in this list.**

In the Date/Time Field Options grid, select the checkbox for the applicable format option that will be used to generate the new date/time field. Once you select a format, the New Field Name column displays a default field name. You can edit this name as desired by clicking on the New Field Name cell and editing the existing name or typing in a new name.

NOTE 1: You can select multiple date/time field options.

NOTE 2: If the data values in the source DateTime field do not contain the necessary information, the generated field will contain empty data values (zeros). For example, if you selected the Hour:Minute format option and the source DateTime field does not contain time values, the new Hour:Minute field will be displayed 00:00 data values.

Click Apply to add new fields to the selected table in the data pool.

**See also:**

* [Project Workshop](https://help.advizorsolutions.com/v7.2+/using-advizor/author-ribbon/condition-data/project-workshop-view)
* [Expression Builder](https://github.com/asisupport/ADVIZOR-Help-V2/tree/26d8b1cd60d32eb467f6cec93d8a5eda808ecb7d/using-views/expression-builder.md)