DF - Date Format

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# DF - Date Format

With the `DF` session parameter, you determine the length of a date when converted into alphanumeric representation without an edit mask being specified.

Possible settings | `S` | 8-byte representation with 2-digit year component and delimiters (`yy-mm-dd`). With `DF=S`, only 2 digits are provided for the year information; this means that if the date value contained the century, this information would be lost during the conversion.
`I` | 8-byte representation with 4-digit year component and no delimiters (`yyyymmdd`). See Note.
`L` | 10-byte representation with 4-digit year component and delimiters (`yyyy-mm-dd`). See Note.
Default setting | `S` |
Applicable statements | `FORMAT` |
`INPUT` `DISPLAY` `WRITE` `PRINT` | Parameter may be specified at statement level and/or at element level.
`MOVE` `COMPRESS` `STACK` `RUN` `FETCH` | Parameter may be specified at element level.
Applicable command | none

Notes:

1. The `DF` parameter is evaluated at compilation time.
2. The sequence of the day, month and year components and the delimiter characters used are determined by the profile parameter `DTFORM`.
3. When the value of a date field is converted into alphanumeric format (for example, in a `MOVE`, `DISPLAY`, `WRITE` or `INPUT` statement) and no edit mask is specified for the conversion, the default date format as determined by the profile parameter `DTFORM` is used as edit mask.
4. The same is true for the input validation of a date variable used in an `INPUT` statement: If no edit mask is specified, the input is validated according to the date format determined by the `DTFORM` parameter.
5. By using `DF=I` or `DF=L`, you can gradually change your applications to use 4-digit year representations and at the same time continue to make use of the flexibility provided by the profile parameter `DTFORM`.
6. See also Date Format for Alphanumeric Representation - DF Parameter in the Programming Guide.