From the Format Browser, select the Add Short Date Format command from the Formats menu to add a short date format to the current schema. As you enter your format selections, an example of the date in that format is displayed at the bottom of the dialog.
To add a short date format
Select the Add Short Date Format command from the Formats menu. The Add Short Date Format dialog, shown in the following example, is then displayed.
In the Format Name text box, specify the name enter a name for your short date format. You must specify a value in this text box. An exception is raised if the specified name does not start with an uppercase letter or the format name is not unique; that is, your schema already contains a format with that name.
In the Order group box, select your required date order. Select the:
Month, Day, Year option button if you want your short date formatted in month, day, year order; for example, 12.31.02.
Day, Month, Year option button, which is selected by default, if you want your short date formatted in day, month, year order; for example, 31.12.02.
Year, Month, Day option button if you want your short date formatted in year, month, day order; for example, 02.12.31.
In the Separator text box of the Options group box, if you do not want the default stroke character (/) used as the date separator, specify the type of separator that you require for your short date; for example, you can specify a space.
Check the Show leading zero for days less than 10 check box of the Options group box if you want days of the month less than 10 (that is, the first nine days of any month) displayed with leading zeros; for example, 09/12/02. By default, leading zeros are not displayed.
Check the Show leading zero for months less than 10 check box of the Options group box if you want months of the year less than 10 (that is, the first nine months of any year) displayed with leading zeros; for example, 12/08/02. By default, leading zeros are not displayed.
Check the Show century when displaying years check box of the Options group box if you want the century to be displayed in the year; for example, 14/12/2002. By default, the century is not displayed.
Click the OK button when you have defined your new short date format. Alternatively, you can click the Next button to redisplay the Add Short Date Format dialog so that you can define another short date format, or you can click the Cancel button to abandon your selections.
When you click the OK button, the Format Browser is then displayed, with the defined short date format included in the Short Date Formats hierarchy and an example of a date in your specified format displayed in the status line.