---
title: Get Formatted Date Data Block
description: "The **Get Formatted Date Data Block** (**fn_GetFormattedDate) Data Block** in Assette is a Python-based Transform block that converts an input date into a user-specified output format. This block is useful when you need to transform dates into a particular string…"
url: "https://learn.assette.com/docs/get-formatted-date-data-block/"
updated: "2025-08-25"
category: Developers / Data Blocks / Data Blocks by Functionality / Assette Helper Data Blocks
---

# Get Formatted Date Data Block

The **Get Formatted Date Data Block** (**fn_GetFormattedDate) Data Block** in Assette is a Python-based Transform block that converts an input date into a user-specified output format. This block is useful when you need to transform dates into a particular string format for display in reports, client communications, or more commonly, as a dependency in another Data Block

### General Info

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Name | fn_GetFormattedDate |
| Block Category | Transform |
| Block Type | Python |
| Output Type | Values |
| Editable | True |

### Definition

```
"""
params:{
    "InputDate": AsOfDate,
    "OutputFormat": Date_Format
}

test param values:{
    "InputDate":"2023-12-31",
    "OutputFormat":"%B-%d-%y"
}

response = "A converted date in required format"
"""

InputDate = params["InputDate"]
OutputFormat = params["OutputFormat"]

def convert_date(InputDate, OutputFormat):
    try:
        # Try to use InputDate as a datetime object with timestamp
        date_obj = datetime.datetime.strptime(str(InputDate), '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S').date()
    except:
        try:
            # Try to use InputDate as a date object without timestamp
            date_obj = datetime.datetime.strptime(str(InputDate), '%Y-%m-%d').date()
        except ValueError as e:
            return f"Error during date conversion: {str(e)}"

    # Format the date object according to the specified output format
    formatted_date = date_obj.strftime(OutputFormat)
    return formatted_date

result = convert_date(InputDate, OutputFormat)
response["values"] = result
```

### Columns

None. This block returns a single formatted value based on the provided input parameters.

### Request Parameters

| Parameter | Display Name | Data Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| InputDate | Input Date | Date | Yes | The date value to be converted. Supports both plain date (`YYYY-MM-DD`) and ISO datetime with timestamp (`YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS`). |
| OutputFormat | Output Format | Text | Yes | A valid Python date format string (e.g., `%B-%d-%y`, `%m/%d/%Y`, `%Y-%m-%d`). Determines how the output date is displayed. |

### Dependencies

| Dependent Block | Description |
| --- | --- |
| PythonEnvForDateCalculation | Defines the imported Python modules and libraries (e.g., “numpy as np”) [[Link](https://learn.assette.com/docs/python-environment-for-date-calculation-data-block/)] |

### Examples

The following examples demonstrate how the **fn_GetFormattedDate** Data Block successfully converts dates into different output formats. Each example uses a valid input date and a valid Python `strftime` format string.

#### Example 1: Full Month Name, Day, and Two-Digit Year

**Request**

```
{
    "InputDate": "2023-12-31",
    "OutputFormat": "%B-%d-%y"
}
```

**Response**

- `%B` → Full month name (December)
- `%d` → Day of the month (31)
- `%y` → Two-digit year (23)

Result: `"December-31-23"`

```
{
    "values": "December-31-23",
    "errors": [],
    "success": true,
    "logs": [],
    "sources": []
}
```

#### Example 2: Month/Day/Four-Digit Year

**Request**

```
{
    "InputDate": "2023-12-31T15:45:00",
    "OutputFormat": "%m/%d/%Y"
}
```

**Response**

- `%m` → Month number (12)
- `%d` → Day (31)
- `%Y` → Four-digit year (2023)

Result: `"12/31/2023"`

```
{
    "values": "12/31/2023",
    "errors": [],
    "success": true,
    "logs": [],
    "sources": []
}
```

#### Example 3: Year-Month-Day (Standard ISO Output)

**Request**

```
{
    "InputDate": "2023-12-31",
    "OutputFormat": "%Y-%m-%d"
}
```

**Response**

This matches the common ISO date format used in many systems.

```
{
    "values": "2023-12-31",
    "errors": [],
    "success": true,
    "logs": [],
    "sources": []
}
```

#### Example 4: Day-Month Abbreviation-Year

**Request**

```
{
    "InputDate": "2023-12-31",
    "OutputFormat": "%d-%b-%Y"
}
```

**Response**

- `%d` → Day (31)
- `%b` → Abbreviated month name (Dec)
- `%Y` → Four-digit year (2023)

Result: `"31-Dec-2023"`

```
{
    "values": "31-Dec-2023",
    "errors": [],
    "success": true,
    "logs": [],
    "sources": []
}
```

#### Example 5: Weekday, Full Month Name, and Year

**Request**

```
{
    "InputDate": "2023-12-31",
    "OutputFormat": "%A, %B %d, %Y"
}
```

**Response**

- `%A` → Full weekday name (Sunday)
- `%B` → Full month name (December)
- `%d` → Day (31)
- `%Y` → Year (2023)

Result: `"Sunday, December 31, 2023"`

```
{
    "values": "Sunday, December 31, 2023",
    "errors": [],
    "success": true,
    "logs": [],
    "sources": []
}
```

#### Example 6: Year and Week Number

**Request**

```
{
    "InputDate": "2023-12-31",
    "OutputFormat": "%Y-W%U"
}
```

**Response**

- `%Y` → Year (2023)
- `%U` → Week number of the year (Sunday as first day of the week)

Result: `"2023-W52"`

```
{
    "values": "2023-W53",
    "errors": [],
    "success": true,
    "logs": [],
    "sources": []
}
```