Is there a way to create a custom date format?

[Guest]

Outlook 2003 allows you to select a date format for columns (in "single-line
layout"; see the Help topic "Change how icons, dates, and numbers display in
a table view") if you do not like the default display of "Best Fit" Ddd
m/dd/yyyy HH:MM AM/PM.

However, the date formats I prefer, such as mm (a leading zero for the month
for Jan through Sept, i.e. 07/29/2005) or the ISO standard (YYYY-MM-DD :
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM), are NOT available from the "Format:" picklist.

So my question is: is there any way to define your own (customized) date
formats? This capability is available in, for example, Microsoft Excel...

If not available in the Outlook interface, is there a way to do it by
"hacking" (e.g. in the Registry)?

Thanks in advance, L. Miller

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

did you try typing in the date format field? it will accept changes,
provided you use the proper characters. (I tried to use non-standard date
separators and it wouldn't accept it.)

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

 

[Pat Willener]

Right-click on the date header line (Received or Sent), then select
Format Columns...

The date format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM is near the top of the list.

 

[Guest]

did you try typing in the date format field? it will accept changes,
provided you use the proper characters. (I tried to use non-standard date
separators and it wouldn't accept it.)

Ms. Poremsky-
Thank you for the advice, but I don't seem to be able to type in my own
option.
In the "Format Columns" window, "Received" field option, clicking in the
"Format:"
box only seems to allow me to pick from the "pick list".

Please see the screenshot at:
http://lyberty.com/tech/microsoft/outlook-help-1.gif

It sounds like you are able to edit the field in your version of Outlook
though: perhaps this is due to the software version? Mine is Outlook 2003 v.
11.5608.5703.
I would try to get an upgrade, but I think "unauthorized upgrades" are
frowned apon by the corporate IT department where I work...

Any chance this "editability" is controlled somewhere else in the application,
or in the global system settings for Windows XP (SP2)?

Thanks again,
L. Miller

 

[Guest]

Right-click on the date header line (Received or Sent), then select
Format Columns...

The date format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM is near the top of the list.

Mr. Willener-
Thank you for your reply, but as shown in the screenshot at

http://lyberty.com/tech/microsoft/outlook-help-1.gif

that option is not available to me (even further down the
"pick list"). For details, see my previous response.

Perhaps you were able to somehow, earlier, define this format for yourself?
Or maybe it is controlled by your globabl Time & Date settings?

Regards,
L. Miller

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

it's a global time setting - in regional settings of control panel. you can
type any valid setting in there. The choices for long data and short date
are used in outlook.

 

[Guest]

it's a global time setting - in regional settings of control panel. you can
type any valid setting in there. The choices for long data and short date
are used in outlook.

Thank you; you are right. (I sort of answered my own question
with that 'global setting?' line of thinking, didn't I?

For any others with the same question in the future (for Win XP):
Go to Start > Control Panel > Regional & Language Options
Then click the "Customize" button; Enter your preferred date format
as the "Short date format"; (you can enter "-" as a "Date separator",
even if it is not listed by default). Click "OK", then "OK" again....

Close and restart Outlook.

When I did this (using YYYY-MM-DD,
but leaving the "long date format" alone), almost all of the
date formatting options had changed, using the new
'short date format' as the pattern foundation for
the various options.

Thanks for your help!