How to change the default format of DATE variables in OpenEdge Progress?

Question

Default DATE format when displaying dates is DD/MM/YY

I want to change that to DD.MM.YYYY

This is just a simple program:

DEFINE VARIABLE daDate AS DATE NO-UNDO.

daDate = TODAY.

MESSAGE daDate.

Currently the output looks like this: 16/09/20

I tried adding FORMAT "99.99.9999" after the variable name like this: DEFINE VARIABLE daDate FORMAT "99.99.9999" AS DATE NO-UNDO. but it didn't change the output at all.

When I instead of MESSAGE use DISPLAY and then write it out with FORMAT, then it displays the correct format: DISPLAY daDate FORMAT "99.99.9999".

Am I doing something completely wrong or am I missing something?

Answer 1

The expression you message will be converted to character first so instead you can take control over that conversion:

MESSAGE STRING(daDate,"99.99.9999").