AMPscript Format Functions Beginner Level

AMPscript Format Functions

AMPscript DateTime functions allow us to manipulate display format, perform math functions, and control email content using static, dynamic, and real-time values. Formatting functions provide a powerful tool set for converting various data types to formatted strings and numbers.

FormatDate(1, 2, 3, 4)
FormatCurrency(1, 2, 3, 4)
FormatNumber(1, 2, 3)
Format(1, 2, 3, 4)

Format Date Function

This function formats a specified string as a date value for a specified format pattern and locale.

Example
%%=FormatDate(1, 2, 3, 4)=%%

	<!-- Example Code -->
	%%[
	/**
	* Format Date Logic
	* Formats a specified string as a date value for a specified format and locale.
	*/
	VAR @date, @date_english, @date_spanish, @date_french, @date_chinese
	SET @date = "2012-10-05 03:30:34.567890"
	SET @date_english = FormatDate(@date, "l", "HH:MM tt", "en-us")
	SET @date_spanish = FormatDate(@date, "l", "HH:MM tt", "es-mx")
	SET @date_french = FormatDate(@date, "l", "HH:MM tt", "fr-fr")
	SET @date_chinese = FormatDate(@date, "l", "HH:MM tt", "zh-cn")
	]%%
	<p>English: %%=v(@date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>Spanish: %%=v(@date_spanish)=%%</p>
	<p>French: %%=v(@date_french)=%%</p>
	<p>Chinese: %%=v(@date_chinese)=%%</p>


	<!-- Example Output -->
	English: Friday, October 5, 2012 03:30 AM
	Spanish: viernes, 5 de octubre de 2012 03:30 a. m.
	French: vendredi 5 octobre 2012 03:30
	Chinese: 2012年10月5日 03:30 上午

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Format Currency Function

This function formats a specified string as a currency value for a specified locale.

Example
%%=FormatCurrency(1, 2, 3, 4)=%%

	<!-- Example Code -->
	%%[
	/**
	* Format Currency Logic
	* Formats a specified string as a currency value for a specified format and locale.
	*/
	VAR @price, @price_usa, @price_mexico, @price_france, @price_canada, @price_china
	SET @price = "199.99"
	SET @price_usa = FormatCurrency(@price, "en-us")
	SET @price_mexico = FormatCurrency(@price, "es-mx")
	SET @price_france = FormatCurrency(@price, "fr-fr")
	SET @price_canada = FormatCurrency(@price, "fr-ca")
	SET @price_china = FormatCurrency(@price, "zh-cn")
	]%%
	<p>USA: %%=v(@price_usa)=%%</p>
	<p>Mexico: %%=v(@price_mexico)=%%</p>
	<p>France: %%=v(@price_france)=%%</p>
	<p>Canada: %%=v(@price_canada)=%%</p>
	<p>China: %%=v(@price_china)=%%</p>


	<!-- Example Output -->
	USA: $199.99
	Mexico: $199.99
	France: 199,99 €
	Canada: 199,99 $
	China: ¥199.99

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Format Number Function

This function formats a specified string as a number for a specified locale.

Example
%%=FormatNumber(1, 2, 3)=%%

	<!-- Example Code -->
	%%[
	/**
	* Format Number Logic
	* Formats a specified string as a number value for a specified format or locale.
	*/
	VAR @number, @currency_english, @currency_french, @decimal, @fixed, @percent, @general
	SET @number = "199"
	SET @currency_english = FormatNumber(@number, "C", "en-us")
	SET @currency_french = FormatNumber(@number, "C", "fr-fr")
	SET @decimal = FormatNumber(@number, "D")
	SET @fixed = FormatNumber(@number, "F")
	SET @percent = FormatNumber(@number, "P")
	SET @general = FormatNumber(@number, "G")
	]%%
	<p>Currency (English): %%=v(@currency_english)=%%</p>
	<p>Currency (French): %%=v(@currency_french)=%%</p>
	<p>Decimal: %%=v(@decimal)=%%</p>
	<p>Fixed: %%=v(@fixed)=%%</p>
	<p>Percent: %%=v(@percent)=%%</p>
	<p>General: %%=v(@general)=%%</p>


	<!-- Example Output -->
	Currency (English): $199.00
	Currency (French): 199,00 €
	Decimal: 199
	Fixed: 199.00
	Percent: 19,900.00%
	General: 199

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Format Function

This function formats a string into a specified format pattern and locale. You’ll want to use this function for date and time formatting that requires a locale setting.

Example
%%=Format(1, 2, 3, 4)=%%

	<!-- Example Code -->
	%%[
	/**
	* Format Logic
	* This function formats a string into a specified format pattern and locale.
	* Use this function for date and time formatting that requires a locale.
	*/
	VAR @date, @long_date_english, @long_date_spanish, @short_date_english, @short_date_spanish, @full_long_date_english, @full_long_date_spanish, @full_short_date_english, @full_short_date_spanish, @general_long_date_english, @general_long_date_spanish, @general_short_date_english, @general_short_date_spanish
	SET @date = "2012-10-05 03:30:34.567890"
	SET @long_date_english = Format(@date,"D", "Date", "en-us")
	SET @long_date_spanish = Format(@date,"D", "Date", "es-mx")
	SET @short_date_english = Format(@date,"d", "Date", "en-us")
	SET @short_date_spanish = Format(@date,"d", "Date", "es-mx")
	SET @full_long_date_english = Format(@date,"F", "Date", "en-us")
	SET @full_long_date_spanish = Format(@date,"F", "Date", "es-mx")
	SET @full_short_date_english = Format(@date,"f", "Date", "en-us")
	SET @full_short_date_spanish = Format(@date,"f", "Date", "es-mx")
	SET @general_long_date_english = Format(@date,"G", "Date", "en-us")
	SET @general_long_date_spanish = Format(@date,"G", "Date", "es-mx")
	SET @general_short_date_english = Format(@date,"g", "Date", "en-us")
	SET @general_short_date_spanish = Format(@date,"g", "Date", "es-mx")
	]%%
	<p>Long Date (English): %%=v(@long_date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>Long Date (Spanish): %%=v(@long_date_spanish)=%%</p>
	<p>Short Date (English): %%=v(@short_date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>Short Date (Spanish): %%=v(@short_date_spanish)=%%</p>
	<p>Full Long Date (English): %%=v(@full_long_date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>Full Long Date (Spanish): %%=v(@full_long_date_spanish)=%%</p>
	<p>Full Short Date (English): %%=v(@full_short_date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>Full Short Date (Spanish): %%=v(@full_short_date_spanish)=%%</p>
	<p>General Long Date (English): %%=v(@general_long_date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>General Long Date (Spanish): %%=v(@general_long_date_spanish)=%%</p>
	<p>General Short Date (English): %%=v(@general_short_date_english)=%%</p>
	<p>General Short Date (Spanish): %%=v(@general_short_date_spanish)=%%</p>


	<!-- Example Output -->
	Long Date (English): Friday, October 5, 2012
	Long Date (Spanish): viernes, 5 de octubre de 2012
	Short Date (English): 10/5/2012
	Short Date (Spanish): 05/10/2012
	Full Long Date (English): Friday, October 5, 2012 3:30:34 AM
	Full Long Date (Spanish): viernes, 5 de octubre de 2012 03:30:34 a. m.
	Full Short Date (English): Friday, October 5, 2012 3:30 AM
	Full Short Date (Spanish): viernes, 5 de octubre de 2012 03:30 a. m.
	General Long Date (English): 10/5/2012 3:30:34 AM
	General Long Date (Spanish): 05/10/2012 03:30:34 a. m.
	General Short Date (English): 10/5/2012 3:30 AM
	General Short Date (Spanish): 05/10/2012 03:30 a. m.