# Javascript: DateFormField.setDateFormat Method

> Sets the date's format. For a certain DateFormField the format string should be one of the strings returned through the getSupportedDateFormats function. A TextControl uses Day, Month, Year, and Era Format Picture strings to format a date. When this date's format is an empty string, which is the default value, a default format is used depending on the culture set for the date field's text.

- **Product:** DS Server
- **Section:** Reference
- **Kind:** Method
- **Introduced:** 28.0
- **Path:** DS Server > Reference > JavaScript API > Javascript: DateFormField.setDateFormat Method
- **494 words**
- **Web URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/reference/javascript/dateformfield/setdateformat-method/
- **LLMs URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/reference/javascript/dateformfield/setdateformat-method/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/reference/javascript/dateformfield/setdateformat-method/llms-full.txt

---

### Description

Sets the date's format. For a certain DateFormField the format string should be one of the strings returned through the getSupportedDateFormats function. A TextControl uses Day, Month, Year, and Era Format Picture strings to format a date. When this date's format is an empty string, which is the default value, a default format is used depending on the culture set for the date field's text.

### Syntax

```javascript
<void> DateFormField.setDateFormat(<String> dateFormat, [<EmptyRequestCallback> callback], [<ErrorCallback> errorCallback])
```

### Parameters

| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| dateFormat | Specifies the date's format. |
| callback | Optional. Is called when the operation completed. |
| errorCallback | Optional. Is called when the operation failed with an error. |

### Examples

The following example demonstrates `DateFormField.setDateFormat` in a practical document-editing workflow. It sets the date's format. For a certain DateFormField the format string should be one of the strings returned through the getSupportedDateFormats function. A TextControl uses Day, Month, Year, and Era Format Picture strings to format a date. When this date's format is an empty string, which is the default value, a default format is used depending on the culture set for the date field's text.

```javascript
function onTxError(error) {
    console.error("TX Text Control error:", error.msg);
    error.handled = true;
}

function configureDateFormat(dateFormField) {
    dateFormField.setDateFormat(
        "MM/dd/yyyy",
        function() {
            console.log("set date format completed.");
        },
        onTxError
    );
}
```

---

## Nearby

- **Previous:** [Javascript: DateFormField.setDate Method](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/reference/javascript/dateformfield/setdate-method/llms-full.txt)
- **Next:** [Javascript: DateFormField.setEmptyWidth Method](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/reference/javascript/dateformfield/setemptywidth-method/llms-full.txt)