Hullo - I have just become a member and I would appreciate help in formatting date entries which I have placed in the COMMENTS field.
These entries are at present written as numbers e.g. 20090415 (representing 15 April 2009).
Is there a way of formatting these entries as 2009 April 14 ?
I have searched the forum and FAQs and have not as yet found an answer.
I have found the program to be very helpful, thankyou. Tonyorob.
One day befor? sure?
If you mean 2009 April 15 try this:
New action
Format value
Field: COMMENT
Format string:
$replace(%comment%,$mid(%comment%,5,2),$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),01), January ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),02), February ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),03), March ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),04), April ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),05), May ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),06), June ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),07), July ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),08), August ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),09), September ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),10), October ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),11), November ,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),12), December ,$mid(%comment%,5,2))))))))))))))
Full names of the months (one line of code):
$left(%COMMENT%,4)' ' $replace($mid(%COMMENT%,5,2), '01','January','02','February','03','March','04','April','05','May','06','June', '07','July','08','August','09','September','10','October','11','November','12','December') ' '$right(%COMMENT%,2)Abbreviated names of the months (one line of code):
$left(%COMMENT%,4)' ' $replace($mid(%COMMENT%,5,2), '01','Jan','02','Feb','03','Mar','04','Apr','05','May','06','June', '07','July','08','Aug','09','Sept','10','Oct','11','Nov','12','Dec') ' '$right(%COMMENT%,2)Use formula within action:
Actiontype 5: Format tag field
Field: COMMENT
Formatstring: $left(%comment%,4)'÷'$replace($mid(%comment%,5,2),
'01','January','02','February','03','March','04','April','05','May','06','June',
'07','July','08','August','09','September','10','October','11','November','12','December')
'÷'$right(%comment%,2)
Actiontype 5: Format tag field
Field: COMMENT
Formatstring: $left(%comment%,4)'÷'$replace($mid(%comment%,5,2),
'01','Jan','02','Feb','03','Mar','04','Apr','05','May','06','June',
'07','July','08','Aug','09','Sept','10','Oct','11','Nov','12','Dec')
'÷'$right(%comment%,2)
Note: Replace one special character ÷ with one space character.
If you want to subtract one day and have it formatted as two digits, then use this formula:
$right('00'$sub($right(%COMMENT%,2),1),2)DD.20090415.1710.CEST
Newser
Thanks so much for your help. I did mean the same day, not the day before - sorry!
The code string you sent me works well on most date numbers but where the year month or day have identical 2 figures the result shows an error. I quote some examples below.
20060607 = 20 June June 07 (06)
20070729 = 20 July July 29 (07)
20070909 = 2007 September September (09)
20071111 = 2007 November November (11)
20080824 = 20 August August 24 (08)
Othewise the code string works well. Perhaps you can modify this to correct the problem.
Thanks again
Anthony Robertson 
At the moment i don't know why there's an error.
But you can use DelevD's expert problem solving. It works perfect.
Thank you again to Newser and DetlevD for your input.
I have used DetlevD's string and it works well with year and month, but does not include the day number.
I have a friend who has also shown interest and he has given me this code-string which works well for year, month and day also.
$left(%comment%,4) $if($eql($mid(%comment%,5, 2),01),January,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),02),February,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),03),March,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),04),April,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),05),May,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),06),June,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),07),July,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),08),August,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),09),September,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),10),October,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),11),November,$if($eql($mid(%comment%,5,2),12),December,$mid(%comment%, 5, 2))))))))))))) $right(%comment%,2)
I think my problem is now solved.
Thanks again
Anthony Robertson 
Hi newser,
the problem with this formula is, that it replaces all targets within the given input source string.
Condensed example:
comment = '20080815'
$mid(%comment%,5,2) = '08'
$replace('20080815','08',' August ') ==> '20 August August 15'
DD.20090416.1320.CEST
There are many ways to Rome.
Look again carefully ... my path also leads to a proper solution with smaller code.
Hi, newser, thank you for verifying.
DD.20090416.1332.CEST