Date Format

You can change the format of dates in tick labels on a scale axis.

You cannot change the format of dates on a categorical axis because these dates are just text, not date variables. However, you can directly edit text in tick labels on a categorical axis, modifying the date as necessary. See the topic Editing Text for more information.

Note: You cannot change the date format of a date variable used as the labeling variable in a scatterplot or as the categorical axis variable. These are treated as strings.

How to Change the Date Format

1. Select the scale axis tick labels if they contain dates.
2. If the Properties window is not already displayed, from the menus choose:

   Edit > Properties

3. Use the Date Format tab to specify the date format.
4. Click Apply.

Using the Date Format Tab

Sample. The sample displays your current choices and shows what the dates will look like when you click Apply.

Automatic. The Chart Editor automatically chooses a date format, which it determines from the system locale. If you have already set up a date format in IBM® SPSS® Statistics, the Chart Editor will use that format.

Common. Select a common date format, which allows you to customize the specific date format without having to specify the format for each part of the date.

Custom. Select a custom format for each part of the date.