Dates

Values in the following columns must be formatted as a Refine 'date':

• DateFirstPackageIssue
• DateLastPackageIssue

How to format common dates into a correct GOKb date

In a Refine project if you have a DateFirstPackageIssue or DateLastPackageIssue in a standard format, in many cases you can convert this to a Refine date simply by using the 'toDate' function. This is also available as a 'Quick Resolution' offered for Errors on these columns as 'attempt automatic conversion'. There are a few scenarios where it is necessary to specify the date format for the 'toDate' function.

Note that specifically special care needs to be taken with dates in the European style 'dd/MM/yyyy' where the date could be interpreted as either a European style or US style date (the automatic conversion opts for the US style interpretation). While non-ambiguous European style dates are interpreted correctly, those that can be interpreted either way are intepreted as being in the US style. This means that for dates in the European style of dd/MM/yyyy it is always safer to treat the dates as ambiguous and specify the date format in the 'toDate' function as show in the table below.