MS Access DateSerial() Function
The DateSerial() function in MS Access creates a date value from its constituent parts: year, month, and day. This is particularly useful when you need to generate dates programmatically, such as in queries or VBA code.
DateSerial(): Definition and Usage
Instead of manually typing a date as text, DateSerial() lets you build a date value using numerical values for each component (year, month, day). This offers better control and allows you to easily calculate dates based on other values.
Syntax
Syntax
DateSerial(year, month, day)
Parameter Values
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
year |
The year (a four-digit number). This is required. |
month |
The month (a number from 1 to 12, where 1 is January). This is required. |
day |
The day (a number from 1 to 31, depending on the month). This is required. |
Examples
Creating a Date
This example creates the date April 20th, 2017.
Syntax
SELECT DateSerial(2017, 4, 20);
Output
2017-04-20 (The exact format might vary slightly depending on your regional settings)
Creating a Date with Calculations
You can perform calculations directly within the function's arguments. Note that this example demonstrates subtracting values to create the date.
Syntax
SELECT DateSerial(2017 - 10, 4 - 1, 20 - 5);
Output
2007-03-15 (The exact format might vary slightly depending on your regional settings)