How are Dates formatted in Appian

Question

Hello, 
 
 Do you know how Appian dates are formatted? 
 I created a transaction at 5:01PM CDT and it appears on the database as 2022-08-12 22:01:18.070 
 
 Thanks

GopalK · Accepted Answer

Hi, you can use text() function.

Mike Schmitt · Answer

nicholaso0002 said: but the date is saving using GMT on the database 
 As I said in my previous reply - this is how Appian works. You should not try to override this behavior, because many internal pieces of functionality depend on it. You need to allow Appian to handle time zone conversion and properly utilize the front-end functionality for local timestamp values.

Mike Schmitt · Answer

Appian stores all dates in a standardized GMT-based decimal format. We don't see that decimal value (without trying really hard), instead we see the interpretation of what that value means to us. When we look in the DB, what we see is that decimal value converted back into a (GMT) timestamp value. In the Appian front-end, either at entry time or after querying the value back from the DB, we see the value in GMT converted back to our timezone.

Mike Schmitt · Answer

nicholaso0002 said: Please, can you tell me why; because the dates in the database is not reflecting the actual date the transaction was completed. Instead it is adding 5hrs; since I am at CST here. 
 GMT (actually UTC) is a universal standard for underlying value of DB timestamp storage. It means that you will *always* be able to take a timestamp value stored to the DB, and interpret it in the correct value given the end user and the time zone they're viewing from. 
 en.wikipedia.org/.../Coordinated_Universal_Time

How are Dates formatted in Appian

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