How to format the output of a date field?

How To
1

I’m rendering a dynamic data output for an event CPT provided by Modern Event Calendar plugin.
by default, the metakey: {cf_mec_start_date} displays the event start date in this format: 2023-01-04
But I would like a more human friendly format like January 4, 2023.
From my research so far, I think its possible to create a function that modifies the output format. any help would be appreciated.

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2

Hello,

Did you find a solution ?

Regards,

Nicolas.

3

@nickwe - the easiest way is to use a php function… for example:
{echo:my_function({custom_field})}

And in functions.php
function my_function($thedate) {
$returndate = date_format($thedate,“Y/m/d H:i:s”);
return $returndate;
}

You can format the date however you need.

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4

Thank you so much for pointing me into the right direction.

For an unknown reason, I had to add a line with date_create before the date_format like this to make it work:

function my_function($thedate) {
$date=date_create($thedate);
$returndate = date_format($date,"Y/m/d H:i:s");
return $returndate;
}

And then use the CustomField from Eventin inside a text element like this:

{echo:my_function({cf_etn_start_date})}

Edit: To make it work with locale, we need to use strftime:

function my_function($thedate) {
setlocale(LC_TIME, "fr_FR");
$date=date_create($thedate);
$formatted_time = strftime("%d %B %Y", $date->getTimestamp());
return $formatted_time;
}

Regards.

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5

Code is basically hope and witchcraft where everyone’s borrowing each-others spells!
Glad you got it working.

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6

Used this in combination with @nickwe 's date_create addition, and it worked for me.

I’ve been scouring the facebook group and several different tutorials. This is the only one that worked for me.

7

None of those examples worked for me when trying to simply return a simple number format for post dates. Here’s what worked for me inside query loops:

// Add into Bricks text fields like: {echo:digit_date()}
function digit_date() {
    $formatted_date = get_the_date('n/d/y');
    return $formatted_date;
}
8

It’s even easier than that!

Simply add the format code that you want at the end of the custom field ID…
{acf_event_date_time:m/d/Y} is 02/01/2024
{acf_event_date_time:F j, Y} is February 1, 2024
{acf_event_date_time:M j, Y} is Feb 1, 2024
You can add time too
{acf_event_date_time:M j, Y g:ia} is Feb 1, 2024 10:00 am

Very useful for formatting cards and events where you need to have more or less info depending on the space you have.

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9

hi, it doen’t works for me with acf, works with {current_date:D j F Y}. thx

10

Best answer. it works perfectly for post_date. No functions needed.

{post_date: F Y} gives “March 2024”

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11

The date formatting filters are not working on custom fields for me (e.g., {cf_my_date_field:F j, Y}).

How can we tell Bricks this is a date field, and that date filters should work?

Thanks!

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12

Me neither. To add the format code seems to work only with {acf_ but not with {cf_ :sleepy:
For example, I have two dynamic data: {cf_date_begin} and {cf_date_end}
When calling at text field they output “2025-02-20” and "2025-02-24".
How can we convert and output “20 to 24 February 2025” ?

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