# Conventions for number and time formats

In many interpretation and formatting functions it is possible to set the format for numbers and dates by using a format code. This topic describes the conventions used to format a number, date, time or time stamp. These conventions apply both to script and chart functions.

## Number formats

* To denote a specific number of digits, use the symbol "0" for each digit.

* To denote a possible digit, use the symbol "#". If the format contains only # symbols to the left of the decimal point and the numbers is less than 1, the zeros are trimmed and it will begin with a decimal point. If the format contains # symbols to the right of the decimal point, all values will be displayed.

* To mark the position of the thousands separator or the decimal separator, use the applicable thousands separator and the decimal separator.

The format code is used for defining the positions of the separators. It is not possible to set the separator in the format code. Use the DecimalSep and ThousandSep variables for this in the script.

It is possible to use the thousand separator to group digits by any number of positions, for example, a format string of "0000-0000-0000" (thousand separator="-") could be used to display a twelve-digit part number as "0012-4567-8912".

[DecimalSep](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/DecimalSep.htm) and [ThousandSep](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/ThousandSep.htm)

Examples:

* # ##0: describes the number as an integer with a thousands separator.
* ###0: describes the number as an integer without a thousands separator.
* 0000: describes the number as an integer with at least four digits. For example, the number 123 will be shown as 0123.
* 0.000: describes the number with three decimals.
* 0.0##: describes the number with three decimals. Some might be displayed as zeros.

## Special number formats

QlikView can interpret and format numbers in any radix between 2 and 36 including binary, octal and hexadecimal. It can also handle roman formats.

Number formats

| Format | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Binary format | To indicate binary format<br>the format code should start with (bin) or (BIN). |
| Octal format | To indicate octal format<br>the format code should start with (oct) or (OCT). |
| Hexadecimal format | To indicate hexadecimal format<br>the format code should start with (hex) or (HEX). If the capitalized version<br>is used A-F will be used for formatting (for example 14FA). The non-capitalized<br>version will result in formatting with a-f (for example 14fa). Interpretation<br>will work for both variants regardless of the capitalization of the format<br>code. |
| Decimal format | The use of (dec) or (DEC)<br>to indicate decimal format is permitted but unnecessary. |
| Custom radix format | To indicate a format in<br>any radix between 2 and 36 the format code should start with (rxx) or<br>(Rxx) where xx is the two-digit number denoting the radix to be used.<br>If the capitalized R is used letters in radices above 10 will be capitalized<br>when QlikView is formatting (for example 14FA). The non-capitalized r will result<br>in formatting with non-capital letters (for example 14fa). Interpretation will<br>work for both variants regardless of the capitalization of the format<br>code. Note that (r02) is the equivalent of (bin), (R16) is the equivalent<br>of (HEX), and so on. |
| Roman format | To indicate roman numbers<br>the format code should start with (rom) or (ROM). If the capitalized version<br>is used capital letters will be used for formatting (for example MMXVI). The<br>non-capitalized version will result in formatting with lower cap letters<br>(mmxvi). Interpretation will work for both variants regardless of the<br>capitalization of the format code. Roman numbers are generalized with<br>minus sign for negative numbers and 0 for zero. Decimals are ignored with<br>roman formatting. |

Examples:

* num(199, '(bin)') returns 11000111
* num(199, '(oct)') returns 307
* num(199, '(hex)') returns c7
* num(199, '(HEX)' ) returns C7
* num(199, '(r02)' ) returns 11000111
* num(199, '(r16)') returns c7
* num(199, '(R16)' ) returns C7
* num(199, '(R36)') returns 5J
* num(199, '(rom)') returns cxcix
* num(199, '(ROM)' ) returns CXCIX

## Dates

You can use the following symbols to format a date. Arbitrary separators can be used.

Date formatting symbols

| Symbol | Description |
| --- | --- |
| D | To describe<br>the day, use the symbol "D" for each digit. |
| M | To describe<br>the month number, use the symbol "M".<br><br><ul> <li>Use <span>"M"</span> or <span>"MM"</span> for one  or two digits. </li> <li> <span>"MMM"</span> denotes short month name in letters as  defined by the operating system or by the override system variable <span>MonthNames</span>  in the script. </li> <li> <span>"MMMM"</span> denotes long month name in letters as  defined by the operating system or by the override system variable <span>LongMonthNames</span>  in the script. </li> </ul><br><br>[MonthNames](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/MonthNames.htm) and [LongMonthNames](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/LongMonthNames.htm) |
| Y | To describe<br>the year, use the symbol "Y" for each digit. |
| W | To describe<br>the weekday, use the symbol "W".<br><br><ul> <li> <span>"W"</span> will return the number  of the day (for example 0 for Monday) as a single digit. </li> <li> <span>"WW"</span> will  return the number with two digits (e.g. 02 for Wednesday). </li> <li> <span>"WWW"</span>  will show the short version of the weekday name (for example Mon) as defined  by the operating system or by the override system variable <span>DayNames</span> in  the script. </li> <li> <span>"WWWW"</span> will show the long version of the weekday  name (for example Monday) as defined by the operating system or by the override  system variable <span>LongDayNames</span> in the script.</li> </ul><br><br>[DayNames](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/DayNames.htm) and [LongDayNames](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/LongDayNames.htm) |

Examples: (with 31st March 2013 as example date)

* YY-MM-DD describes the date as 13-03-31.
* YYYY-MM-DD describes the date as 2013-03-31.
* YYYY-MMM-DD describes the date as 2013-Mar-31.
* DD MMMM YYYY describes the date as 31 March 2013.
* M/D/YY describes the date as 3/31/13.
* W YY-MM-DD describes the date as 6 13-03-31.
* WWW YY-MM-DD describes the date as Sat 13-03-31.
* WWWW YY-MM-DD describes the date as Saturday 13-03-31.

## Times

You can use the following symbols to format a time. Arbitrary separators can be used.

Time format symbols

| Symbol | Description |
| --- | --- |
| h | To describe<br>the hours, use the symbol "h" for each digit. |
| m | To describe<br>the minutes, use the symbol "m" for each digit. |
| s | To describe<br>the seconds, use the symbol "s" for each digit. |
| f | To describe<br>the fractions of a second, use the symbol "f" for each digit. |
| tt | To describe<br>the time in AM/PM format, use the symbol "tt" after the time. |

Examples: (with 18.30 as example time):

* hh:mm: describes the time as 18:30
* hh.mm.ss.ff: describes the time as 18.30.00.00
* hh:mm:tt: describes the time as 06:30:pm

## Time stamps

The same notation as that of dates and times above is used in time stamps.

Examples: (with 31th March 2013 18.30 as example time stamp):

* YY-MM-DD hh:mm: describes the time stamp as 13-03-31 18:30
* M/D/Y hh.mm.ss.ffff: describes the time stamp as 3/31/13 18.30.00.0000