Message Definition Date and Time Properties

You can set the properties assigned to new fields you add to a message definition.

Date and time properties apply to a field only if the field's Data Type is set to one of the following types:


You can set default properties for a single message definition in the New Message Definition wizard when you create a new message definition or globally for your entire workspace by setting message defaults preferences.

Table 1. Default date and time properties
Field Description
Y2k Cutoff

To specify how a 2-digit year from 00-99 is interpreted as a 4-digit year, enter a number from 0 to 99 inclusive. Any 2-digit year >= the Y2k Cutoff becomes 20XX. Any 2-digit year < the Y2k Cutoff becomes 19XX.

For example, if you enter 75 , all 2-digit input dates from 75 to 99 are designated as 1975 to 1999 output dates. All 2-digit input dates from 00 to 74 are designated as 2000 to 2074 output dates.

Custom Date Time Format

Enter your own custom date/time format or select a predefined template that represents the format of any Custom Date & Time fields you add to the message definition. For example, select yy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss to represent date/time fields formatted similar to 95-12-03 23:30:59.

As you enter the Java time pattern string, the bottom status line of the main Sybase WorkSpace window dynamically displays a formatted example date and time.

For a summary of codes you can enter in this field, see Supported Date and Time Format Codes.

Formatted Date

Click the radio button to select one of the following. The example time is displayed using the selected format.


  • Use Sample Date: displays the sample formatted date/time using the same arbitrary values every time.

  • Use Current Date: uses the current date/time value from the operating system.

Date list options

Provides the following options:


  • Edit lists: Load a different list of data time formats. Data time formats provided in a text file, listing one date format per line of the file, can be used. Formats in the list are validated when the lsit is loaded and only valid formats are displayed and saved.

  • Export list: Exports displayed formats to an external file.

Related concepts
Set Up
Related tasks
Setting Message Definition Preferences

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