Format a Date/Time Column

[Helen_Quint]

Hi all,

I would like to format a column within a sheet which is currently displaying the date and time, but I would like it to display this in another format. I know this can be done using a formula referencing the cell in another column, but I just want to change the original data, I don’t want to have to link it anywhere else.

It seems like the easiest thing and something that is standard across most spreadsheet style software but I cannot find the option to do so. Is this possible?

Thanks

[W_Vann_Hall]

Right-click on the field head, select ‘Customize field type,’ select the ‘Formatting’ tab, and choose which date or date-and-time format you desire. :winking_face:

[Helen_Quint]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t see a formatting tab - I have attached a screenshot of what I see after selecting ‘customise field type’

I can see the basic formatting options ( there are about 4 ways to display the date/time) but what I want to do is not there. Ideally I would like to use format such as this example - Mon 01 April 2018, 2:30pm. I can see this can be done with formula, but can’t find a way of getting this kind of format without it being the result of formula linked to another column.

Thanks for your help!

Helen

[W_Vann_Hall]

No, you’re right; for some reason I thought you were dealing with a calculated date (that is, a formula field that evaluates to a date) rather than a data entry date field.

You’re also right in that your choices are limited; the date field doesn’t support the full range of options available through DATETIME_FORMAT(). I’m afraid that is your only route if you’re determined to use that specific format.

[Helen_Quint]

How annoying! Thank you for clarifying.

Helen

[W_Vann_Hall]

On behalf of the folks at Airtable, given the large number of possible variations in the way a time/date field could be formatted, I understand the line must be drawn somewhere. (For what it’s worth, most of the time the integral formats don’t satisfy my needs, either.)