Internal date format of SAP

[srikanthv2]

Hi,

Usually SAP Internal date format is 20141205.

Many consultants don't know why SAP used this format.

Even I also observed in a latest requirement and realized that it was very useful when we got situations like comparisons with the date.

For Example:

Case 1: Date first

In this case  05122014 is less than 06112014 actually 05122014 should greater than 06112014.

This case fails to compare the dates.

Case 2: Month first

In this case if we take 12242013(mmddyyyy) and 11052014(mmddyyyy). Now 12242013 is greater than 11052014.

But this case fails. Acutally 11052014 is greater than the date 12242013.

Case 3: SAP used format(yyyymmdd)

This case usually SAP used very nice to compare dates internally.

Please add on information for this if you know anything other than this.

In my case I thought like this.

Our discussion can be useful for someone who want to gain some knowledge.

Regards,
Srikanth.

[vinaykumardalap]

Hello Srikanth,

That was nice explanation.

Thanks,

Vinay

[Colleen]

never really thought about it before

I do, however put YYYYMMDD on end of file versions or meeting minutes, etc as it's a good way to sort chronologically if the files all begin with the same name.

for calculations, I assume you'd be using a function or something to cater for unusual years and months (leap year for example) but am not a developer.