This is annoying feature, because I loaded the date data the way I wanted it, but Alteryx reversed it... I can imagine I can use a parsing tool for several different dates... this is more time consuming than I'd like, is there is another way around this? Could Alteryx just change there system to keep the information that is Inputted the same (that would be nice).
Thanks,
Chuck
Interestingly, when I exported the Date data into Excel, it reverted it back to MM/DD/YYYY format. Great 🙂
For reference, the DateTime tool in the parse category is perfect for this.
https://help.alteryx.com/current/DateTime.htm
You use one DateTime tool to take a date string in any format and it will convert it into an actual date data type in yyyy-MM-dd format. Then you can follow it up with another DateTime tool where you convert "Date/Time format to string" and you can have it convert the date field that you just created into whatever new format you would like.
Hi @cyeager,
It looks like you are outputting the date in correct date format. When you open with it excel it identifies is a date as well and you will see it in the excel date format. I over complicate it 🙂
Overally if you really would be interested in changing the date format and write it down differently the only way to achieve it is change the date to a string and save it down as a string format.
I don't think you require it this time and you sorted you are all good!
Thank you
@cyeager if you'd like to keep the data the same throughout the workflow, bring it in as a string. If it's coming from Excel formatted as a date, Alteryx will make it in the database format (yyyy-mm-dd). You can use the date time tool or a formula tool with ToString(substring()) to move the order back around. The benefit of working with it in the Alteryx format is the analytics that can be performed on a date (days of week, months, days different, etc.)
You can submit this as an Idea under https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Ideas/idb-p/product-ideas
Localization changes to date is important, and in your case, a time saving option as well.