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  • 1.  Date format MMM-YY

    Posted 07/29/25 11:45 PM

    How can I achieve this date format MMM-YY i.e., Jan-25 to be presented in Cognos Analytics dashboard? The sorting mechanism is of course needed.

    YYYY-MM is achievable via creating extra calculation columns and it will sort by default but it is not desirable.

    In data module, the advanced date format setting has a few options to not display day but I can't see the affect after selecting that. (seriously wondering what those settings do)

    Appreciate for any feedback.

    Best Regards



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    WB Consultant IBM Partner
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  • 2.  RE: Date format MMM-YY
    Best Answer

    Posted 07/30/25 03:37 AM

    Hi WB,

    It did some tests with Cognos Analytics v12.1.0. I'm able to format a date column that will display Jan-25 in Report. However, this same column is NOT working at expected (it displays 02/14/2021 for instance).

    The best solution is to create a calculation in data module, then sort on a date column:

    Best regards,



    ------------------------------
    Patrick Neveu
    BSL Consulting
    IBM Champion
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  • 3.  RE: Date format MMM-YY

    Posted 07/30/25 08:45 PM

    Thanks Patrick, that alternative works! In data module column properties, that section "Member Display" - I always thought this is related to how the list of values are presented in the left side panel. Never thought that it can be used to sort using other column. 



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    WB Consultant IBM Partner
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Date format MMM-YY

    Posted 07/30/25 01:41 PM

    Hi WB,

    FYI - I found this in the documentation after playing around with date formatting in data modules/dashboards - "...only Reporting supports the advanced data formatting options that were specified in the data module. If you require the advanced formatting options for your data in dashboards, explorations, or stories, ensure that the data already exists in the format you require in the data source (database, Excel spreadsheet)."

    I usually end up using calculations in my data modules to create dates in the formats I might require.  I did submit an 'idea' (CA-I-4619) to allow advanced data formatting options in other components and not just in Reporting.

    BS



    ------------------------------
    Bob Smith
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  • 5.  RE: Date format MMM-YY

    Posted 07/30/25 08:51 PM

    Thanks Bob, I actually read about this long time ago but it slipped my mind after some time. Problem with getting the format MMM-yy in the data source is, when you bring it into CA, it does not recognise it as valid date format, and will sort is alphabetically for you - ended up having Apr as first element displayed.



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    WB Consultant IBM Partner
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Date format MMM-YY

    Posted 07/31/25 10:03 AM

    To make voting easier, here's the Link for idea CA-I-4619.



    ------------------------------
    Thomas Wolf
    BI Professional
    Techniker Krankenkasse
    Hamburg
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    Original Message