FormatDateTime Function

Applies To
Access for Microsoft 365 Access 2024 Access 2021 Access 2019 Access 2016

Returns an expression formatted as a date or time.

Syntax

FormatDateTime( Date [, NamedFormat ] ⁠)⁠

The FormatDateTime function syntax has these arguments:

Argument Description
Date Required. Date expression to be formatted.
NamedFormat Optional. Numeric value that indicates the date/time format used. If omitted, vbGeneralDate is used.

Settings

The NamedFormat argument has the following settings:

Constant Value Description
vbGeneralDate 0 Display a date and/or time. If there is a date part, display it as a short date. If there is a time part, display it as a long time. If present, both parts are displayed.
vbLongDate 1 Display a date using the long date format specified in your computer's regional settings.
vbShortDate 2 Display a date using the short date format specified in your computer's regional settings.
vbLongTime 3 Display a time using the time format specified in your computer's regional settings.
vbShortTime 4 Display a time using the 24-hour format (hh:mm).

Examples

Expression Results
SELECT FormatDateTime([DateTime],0) AS Expr1 FROM ProductSales; Formats and displays the date values in "DateTime" field into Date and/or time.
SELECT FormatDateTime([DateTime],1) AS NewDate FROM ProductSales; Formats and displays the date values in "DateTime" field as Long Date format. Formats and displays the date values in "DateTime" field as Short Date format.
SELECT FormatDateTime([DateTime],3) AS NewDate FROM ProductSales; Formats and displays the date values in "DateTime" field as "Time" format (without the date).
SELECT FormatDateTime([DateTime],4) AS NewDate FROM ProductSales; Formats and displays the date values in "DateTime" field as 24hour "Time" format (without the date).