String to date format

Question

Hi,

Thank you for viewing this question

I have a column named Month with string value, for example: 042017, 052018

I need to do 2 things:

1. Change this into a date format: 04-2017 (or at least the column is read as a time format)

2. Add a new column to define the Month_Name: Apr, May (without the year)

I tried DateTimeParse as follow: DateTimeParse([Month], "%b") but it returns null value

Thank you in advance

Luke_C · Accepted Answer

@PhuongTran52

You're on the right track with your thinking. You first need to parse the date using a datetimeparse function, then you can use a datetimeformat function to get the month. See attached for an example.

JosephSerpis · Accepted Answer

Hi @PhuongTran52 I've mocked up a workflow that produces the output you describe. However the only valid date format alteryx will recognize as valid date data format is YYYY-MM-DD.

RolandSchubert · Accepted Answer

Hi @PhuongTran52 ,

I think you need 3 formulas to get the required output:

1. convert the string to a date format (date is always "YYYY-MM-DD" in Alteryx), based on your input data, the conversion will return the first day of the month

2. convert the date to the month format you need ("MM-YYYY")

3. find the month name

There are two DateTime functions you can use: DateTimeParse to convert a string to a date, and DateTimeFormat to create the output format you need.

Let me know if it works for you.

Best,

Roland