How to Format Date in D365FO Using X++ | Convert Date to Custom String Format

 

📝 Introduction

In Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO), there are scenarios where you might need to display a date in a custom format — for reports, logs, filenames, or user messages.

X++ provides a powerful utility function, date2str(), which allows you to convert a date type to a formatted string using various layout options.

This post explains how to format a date in D365FO using modern and clear X++ code.

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🧩 Example: Convert Today’s Date to Custom String Format

x++
static void D365FO_CustomDateFormatExample(Args _args)
{
    // Declare today's date
    date        currentDate = today();
    str         formattedDate;

    // Convert date to string with custom format
    formattedDate = date2str(
        currentDate,
        123,                                // Sequence of formatting
        DateDay::Digits2,                   // Day as 2-digit (e.g., 01, 25)
        DateSeparator::Hyphen,              // Separator after day (-)
        DateMonth::Short,                   // Month as short name (e.g., Jan, Feb)
        DateSeparator::Hyphen,              // Separator after month (-)
        DateYear::Digits4                   // Year as 4-digit (e.g., 2025)
    );

    info(strFmt("Today's formatted date is: %1", formattedDate));
}

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🔎 Format Explanation:

Argument	Value	Purpose
DateDay::Digits2	2-digit day (e.g., 01)	Format day component
DateSeparator::Hyphen	-	Separator between date parts
DateMonth::Short	Short month name (e.g., Apr)	Format month as short text
DateYear::Digits4	4-digit year (e.g., 2025)	Format year component

You can customize it easily using:

• DateSeparator::Slash instead of Hyphen

• DateMonth::Digits2 for numeric month

• DateDay::Name to include weekday

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🔄 Alternate Formats

Example 1: MM/DD/YYYY Format

x++
formattedDate = date2str(
    currentDate, 
    123, 
    DateMonth::Digits2, DateSeparator::Slash, 
    DateDay::Digits2, DateSeparator::Slash, 
    DateYear::Digits4);

Example 2: Full Date with Day Name

x++
formattedDate = date2str(
    currentDate,
    321,
    DateDay::Name, DateSeparator::Space,
    DateMonth::Name, DateSeparator::Space,
    DateYear::Digits4);

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✅ Summary

• Use date2str() to convert and format dates in D365FO.

• Customize separators, order (day/month/year), and format style.

• Helps in consistent date presentation across reports, emails, logs, etc.

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🔖 Tags

D365FO Date Format, X++ date to string, How to use date2str(), Convert date in D365, X++ formatting examples, D365FO reports, X++ today date, Custom date separator X++, AX to D365FO Date Format