A standard date and time format string uses a single format specifier to define the text representation of a date and time value. Any date and time format string that contains more than one character, including white space, is interpreted as a custom date and time format string. A standard or custom format string can be used in two ways:

• To define the string that results from a formatting operation.

• To define the text representation of a date and time value that can be converted to a DateTime value by a parsing operation.

Let’s change the Order Date on the Orders controller to display the long date pattern.

Start the Project Designer. In the Project Explorer, double-click on Orders / Fields / OrderDate field node.

Change the Data Format String property:

Press OK to save the field. On the toolbar, press Browse.

Navigate to the Orders page. The Order Date values will be rendered in the long date pattern.

Below is a list of supported date format strings. The format string can be specified either directly or in curly braces. The data format string in the above sample can be written “D” or “{0:D}”.