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MDX formats

This page lists all available MDX formats for the FORMAT_STRING cell property, along with their support in ActivePivot.

The official documentation for the formats can be found on the Microsoft website.

Introduction

The FORMAT_STRING cell property specifies how to format both string and raw numeric values. The following tables detail the syntax and the available formatting characters that can be used for the property.

ActivePivot uses the FORMAT_STRING cell property to format the VALUE, storing the formatted value in the FORMATTED_VALUE cell property. This behavior conforms to Microsoft's specification regarding these properties.

On the client's side, ActiveUI directly uses the formatted values from the FORMATTED_VALUE cell property.

Excel behaves differently for measures and does the formatting on the client, ignoring the FORMATTED_VALUE cell property. This implies that:

  • formats that are unsupported or partially supported may still be rendered correctly in Excel.
  • custom formatters defined within ActivePivot will be ignored.

The formatting of other formattable elements such as dimension members behaves the same way both in Excel and ActiveUI.

The following symbols used throughout the page describe support in ActivePivot for the standard formatting syntax.

SymbolMeaning
tickfully supported
pluspartially supported
minusnot supported

Numeric Formats

When designating a numeric formatter, the format string must be enclosed with either DOUBLE[] or INT[] (example: DOUBLE[#.###]).

DOUBLE and INT can be used interchangeably. They accept the same format strings and produce the same results.

Sections

A user-defined format expression for numbers can have anywhere from one to four sections, separated by semicolons. If the format argument contains one of the named numeric formats, only one section is allowed.

FormatSupportedDescription
One sectiontickThe format expression applies to all values.
Two sectionstickThe first section applies to positive values and zeros, the second to negative values.
Three sectionstickThe first section applies to positive values, the second to negative values, and the third to zeros.
Four sectionstickThe first section applies to positive values, the second to negative values, the third to zeros, and the fourth to null values.

Characters

The following table lists the characters that can appear in the format string for numeric formats.

CharacterSupportedDescription
NonetickDisplays the number without any formatting.
0tick

Represents a digit placeholder that displays a digit or a zero (0).

If the number has a digit in the position where the zero appears in the format string, the formatted value displays the digit. Otherwise, the formatted value displays a zero in that position.

If the number has fewer digits than there are zeros (on either side of the decimal) in the format string, the formatted value displays leading or trailing zeros.

If the number has more digits to the right of the decimal separator than there are zeros to the right of the decimal separator in the format expression, the formatted value rounds the number to as many decimal places as there are zeros.

If the number has more digits to the left of the decimal separator than there are zeros to the left of the decimal separator in the format expression, the formatted value displays the additional digits without modification.

#tick

Represents a digit placeholder that displays a digit or nothing.

If the expression has a digit in the position where the number sign (#) appears in the format string, the formatted value displays the digit. Otherwise, the formatted value displays nothing in that position.

The number sign (#) placeholder works like the zero (0) digit placeholder except that leading and trailing zeros are not displayed if the number has the same or fewer digits than there are # characters on either side of the decimal separator in the format expression.

.tick

Represents a decimal placeholder that determines how many digits are displayed to the left and right of the decimal separator.

If the format expression contains only number sign (#) characters to the left of the period (.), numbers smaller than 1 start with a decimal separator. To display a leading zero displayed with fractional numbers, use zero (0) as the first digit placeholder to the left of the decimal separator.

The actual character used as a decimal placeholder in the formatted output depends on the number format recognized by the computer system.

Note: In some locales, a comma is used as the decimal separator.

%tick

Represents a percentage placeholder. The expression is multiplied by 100. The percent character (%) is inserted in the position where the percentage appears in the format string.

,tick

Represents a thousand separator that separates thousands from hundreds within a number that has four or more places to the left of the decimal separator.

Standard use of the thousand separator is specified if the format contains a thousand separator enclosed in digit placeholders (0 or #).

Two adjacent thousand separators, or a thousand separator immediately to the left of the decimal separator (whether or not a decimal is specified), means "scale the number by dividing the number by 1000, rounding as required." For example, you can use the format string "##0,," to represent 100 million as 100. Numbers smaller than 1 million are displayed as 0. Two adjacent thousand separators in any position other than immediately to the left of the decimal separator are treated as specifying the use of a thousand separator.

The actual character used as the thousand separator in the formatted output depends on the number format recognized by the computer system.

Note: In some locales, a period is used as the thousand separator.

:minus

Represents a time separator that separates hours, minutes, and seconds when time values are formatted.

Note: In some locales, other characters may be used as the time separator.

The actual character used as the time separator in formatted output is determined by the system settings on the computer.

/tick

Represents a date separator that separates the day, month, and year when date values are formatted.

The actual character used as the date separator in formatted output is determined by the system settings on the computer.

Note: In some locales, other characters may used as the date separator.

E- E+ e- e+minus

Represents scientific format.

If the format expression contains at least one digit placeholder (0 or #) to the right of E-, E+, e-, or e+, the formatted value displays in scientific format and E or e is inserted between the number and the number's exponent. The number of digit placeholders to the right determines the number of digits in the exponent. Use E- or e- to include a minus sign next to negative exponents. Use E+ or e+ to include a minus sign next to negative exponents and a plus sign next to positive exponents.

- + $ ()tick

Displays a literal character.

To display a character other than one of those listed, put a backslash (\) before the character or enclose the character in double quotation marks (" ").

\ tick

Displays the next character in the format string.

To display a character that has special meaning as a literal character, put a backslash (\) before the character. The backslash itself is not displayed. Using a backslash is the same as enclosing the next character in double quotation marks. To display a backslash, use two backslashes (\\). Examples of characters that cannot be displayed as literal characters include the following characters:

The date-formatting and time-formatting characters—a, c, d, h, m, n, p, q, s, t, w, y, /, and :

The numeric-formatting characters—#, 0, %, E, e, comma, and period

The string-formatting characters—@, &, <, >, and !.

"ABC"minus

Displays the string inside the double quotation marks (" ").

To include a string in format from within code, use Chr(34) to enclose the text. (The character code for a double quotation mark is 34.)

Named Numeric Formats

The following table lists the predefined numeric format names.

Format nameSupportedDescription
General NumberminusDisplays the number with no thousand separator.
CurrencyminusDisplays the number with a thousand separator, if appropriate. Displays two digits to the right of the decimal separator. Output is based on system locale settings.
FixedminusDisplays at least one digit to the left and two digits to the right of the decimal separator.
StandardminusDisplays the number with thousand separator, at least one digit to the left and two digits to the right of the decimal separator.
PercentminusDisplays the number multiplied by 100 with a percent sign (%) appended to the right. Always displays two digits to the right of the decimal separator.
ScientificminusUses standard scientific notation.
Yes/NominusDisplays No if the number is 0; otherwise, displays Yes.
True/FalseminusDisplays False if the number is 0; otherwise, displays True.
On/OffminusDisplays Off if the number is 0; otherwise, displays On.

String formats

String formatting syntax is currently not supported in ActivePivot.

Sections

FormatSupportedDescription
One sectionminusThe format expression applies to all string values.
Two sectionsminusThe first section applies to string data, whereas the second section applies to null values and zero-length strings ("").

Characters

The following table lists the characters that can appear in the format string for string formats.

CharacterSupportedDescription
@minusRepresents a character placeholder that displays a character or a space. If the string has a character in the position where the at sign (@) appears in the format string, the formatted string displays the character. Otherwise, the formatted string displays a space in that position. Placeholders are filled from right to left unless there is an exclamation point (!) in the format string.
&minusRepresents a character placeholder that displays a character or nothing. If the string has a character in the position where the ampersand (&) appears, the formatted string displays the character. Otherwise, the formatted string displays nothing. Placeholders are filled from right to left unless there is an exclamation point (!) in the format string.
<minusForces lowercase. The formatted string displays all characters in lowercase format.
>minusForces uppercase. The formatted string displays all characters in uppercase format.
!minusForces left-to-right fill of placeholders. (The default is to fill placeholders from right to left.)

Date Formats

When defining a date formatter, the format string must be enclosed by DATE[] (example: DATE[yyyy/q]).

Characters

The following table lists the characters that can appear in the format string for date and time formats.

CharacterSupportedDescription
:plus

Represents a time separator that separates hours, minutes, and seconds when time values are formatted.

The actual character used as the time separator in formatted output is determined by the system settings of the computer.

Note: In some locales, other characters may used as the time separator.

The separator is not localized in ActivePivot.

/plus

Represents a date separator that separates the day, month, and year when date values are formatted.

The actual character used as the date separator in formatted output is determined by the system settings of the computer.

Note: In some locales, other characters may be used to represent the date separator.

The separator is not localized in ActivePivot.

Cminus

Displays the date as ddddd and displays the time as ttttt, in that order.

Displays only date information if there is no fractional part to the date serial number. Displays only time information if there is no integer portion.

dtickDisplays the day as a number without a leading zero (1–31).
ddtickDisplays the day as a number with a leading zero (01–31).
dddminusDisplays the day as an abbreviation (Sun–Sat).
ddddminusDisplays the day as a full name (Sunday–Saturday).
dddddminus

Displays the date as a complete date (including day, month, and year), formatted according to your system's short date format setting.

For Microsoft Windows, the default short date format is m/d/yy.

ddddddminus

Displays a date serial number as a complete date (including day, month, and year), formatted according to the long date setting recognized by the computer system.

For Windows, the default long date format is mmmm dd, yyyy.

wplus

Displays the day of the week as a number (1 for Sunday through 7 for Saturday).

Displays the week of the year instead.

wwtickDisplays the week of the year as a number (1–54).
mplus

Displays the month as a number without a leading zero (1–12).

If m immediately follows h or hh, the minute instead of the month is displayed.

Use uppercase M instead.

mmplus

Displays the month as a number with a leading zero (01–12).

If m immediately follows h or hh, the minute instead of the month is displayed.

Use uppercase MM instead.

mmmplus

Displays the month as an abbreviation (Jan–Dec).

Use uppercase MMM instead.

mmmmplus

Displays the month as a full month name (January–December).

Use uppercase MMMM instead.

qtickDisplays the quarter of the year as a number (1–4).
ytickDisplays the day of the year as a number (1–366).
yytickDisplays the year as a two-digit number (00–99).
yyyytickDisplays the year as a four-digit number (100–9999).
htickDisplays the hour as a number without leading zeros (0–23).
hhtickDisplays the hour as a number with leading zeros (00–23).
nplus

Displays the minute as a number without leading zeros (0–59).

Use m instead.

nnplus

Displays the minute as a number with leading zeros (00–59).

Use mm instead.

stickDisplays the second as a number without leading zeros (0–59).
sstickDisplays the second as a number with leading zeros (00–59).
t t t t tminus

Displays a time as a complete time (including hour, minute, and second), formatted using the time separator defined by the time format recognized by the computer system.

A leading zero is displayed if the leading zero option is selected, and the time is earlier than 10:00 in either the A.M. or the P.M. cycle. For example, 09:59.

For Windows, the default time format is h:mm:ss.

AM/PMminus

Displays an uppercase AM with any hour from midnight until noon; displays an uppercase PM with any hour from noon until midnight.

Note: Uses the 12-hour clock.

am/pmminus

Displays a lowercase am with any hour from midnight until noon; displays a lowercase pm with any hour from noon until midnight.

Note: Uses the 12-hour clock.

A/Pminus

Displays an uppercase A with any hour from midnight until noon; displays an uppercase P with any hour from noon until midnight.

Note: Uses the 12-hour clock.

a/pminus

Displays a lowercase a with any hour from midnight until noon; displays a lowercase p with any hour from noon until midnight.

Note: Uses the 12-hour clock.

AMPMminus

Displays the AM string literal as defined by the computer system with any hour from midnight until noon; displays the PM string literal as defined by the computer system with any hour from noon until midnight.

AMPM can be either uppercase or lowercase, but the case of the string displayed matches the string as defined by the system settings of the computer.

For Windows, the default format is AM/PM.

Note: Uses the 12-hour clock.

Named Date Formats

The following table lists the predefined date and time format names:

Format nameSupportedDescription
General DateminusDisplays a date and/or time. For real numbers, displays a date and time, for example, 4/3/93 05:34 PM. If there is no fractional part, displays only a date, for example, 4/3/93. If there is no integer part, displays a time only, for example, 05:34 PM. The format of the date display is determined by your system settings.
Long DateminusDisplays a date according to your system's long date format.
Medium DateminusDisplays a date using the medium date format appropriate for the language version of the host application.
Short DateminusDisplays a date using your system's short date format.
Long TimeminusDisplays a time using your system's long time format; includes hours, minutes, and seconds.
Medium TimeminusDisplays a time in the 12-hour format using hours and minutes and the AM/PM designator.
Short TimeminusDisplays a time using the 24-hour format, for example, 17:45.

Note about Usable Formats

Internally, a java.text.SimpleDateFormat is used, so its formatting syntax must be used instead of the standard MDX syntax.

Using a format string that is incompatible with SimpleDateFormat's expected syntax will result in an exception in ActivePivot.

Example: DATE[yyyy/MM/dd] must be used to format dates as year/month/day, even though months should be designated with a lowercase mm according to the MDX formatting standard.

Custom Formatters

Custom formatters can be added to ActivePivot by implementing the IFormatter interface. They can be useful to format Java objects that do not have formatting support by default in ActivePivot, or to accept a different syntax than the one specified by the MDX standard.

If the custom formatter needs to be configured with a pattern string, it should implement IPatternFormatter rather than IFormatter. Similarly, the formatter can be provided the current Locale if it extends ALocalizable.

In this case, the formatter should have a constructor with signature Constructor([Locale], [String]), depending on whether it extends ALocalizable and/or IFormatter.

Once registered as a plugin value in the registry, the custom formatter can be used by specifying its plugin key while defining a formatter (example: PLUGIN_KEY or PLUGIN_KEY[pattern], for a custom formatter whose plugin key is PLUGIN_KEY).

Examples

Here are some examples of common format strings:

Format StringValueFormatted Value
DOUBLE[#.#]1.234561.2
-1.23456-1.2
00
DOUBLE[#.00%]1.23456123.46%
-1.23456-123.46%
00.00%
DOUBLE[+#.#;-#.#]1.23456 +1.2
-1.23456-1.2
0+0
DOUBLE[+#.#;-#.#;0]1.23456+1.2
-1.23456-1.2
00
DOUBLE[#,,\M]12,345,678 12M
-12,345,678-12M
00M
DATE[yyyy/MM/dd]year=2020; day=31; month=122020/12/31
DATE['Q'q]year=2020; day=31; month=12Q4