DTOS( )

Topic group Related topics Example

Returns a specified date as a character string in YYYYMMDD format.

Syntax

DTOS(<expD>)

<expD>

The date expression to return as a character string in YYYYMMDD format.

Description

Use DTOS( ) to convert a date expression to a character string suitable for indexing or sorting. For example, you can use DTOS( ) when indexing on a date field in combination with another field of a different type. DTOS( ) always returns a character string in YYYYMMDD format, even if SET CENTURY is OFF.

If you pass a blank date to DTOS( ), it returns a string with eight spaces, which matches the length of the normal result.