Pattern guidelines
When you define a pattern, the number of symbols
you use affects how the data will be shown. There are different rules
for text, numbers, and values that can take the form of text or numbers.
Text
You can specify whether text is produced in full or abbreviated form.
| Number of symbols |
Meaning |
Example |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or more |
Full text form |
EEEE produces Monday |
| Less than 4 |
Abbreviated form |
EEE produces Mon |
Numbers
The number of symbols you use in a pattern sets the minimum number of digits that are produced in a report. Numbers that have fewer digits than specified are zero-padded. For example, if you specify mm for minutes, and the database value is 6, the report will show 06.
Note: The year value
is handled differently. If you specify two symbols for year, the last
two digits of the year value is produced. For example, yyyy produces
2013, and yy produces 13.
Text and Numbers
For values that can produce text or numbers, such as months, you can specify whether text or numbers are produced, and whether words are abbreviated.
| Number of symbols |
Meaning |
Example |
|---|---|---|
| 3 or more |
Text |
MMMM produces January MMM produces Jan |
| Less than 3 |
Numbers |
MM produces 01 M produces 1 |