ABAP User Date Format: Get & Convert Dates Dynamically

How to Get a User’s Date Format in SAP ABAP

SAP allows users to have different date formats based on their user profile settings. You can retrieve the user-specific date format using system parameters and function modules.

1. Get User’s Date Format Using SY-DATLO and SY-DATFM

DATA: lv_date_format TYPE char10.

lv_date_format = sy-datfm.  " User's date format setting
WRITE: 'User Date Format:', lv_date_format.

✅ Returns the user’s default date format code
✅ Possible values:

• 1 → DD.MM.YYYY (German/European format)
• 2 → MM/DD/YYYY (US format)
• 3 → YYYY/MM/DD (ISO format)

2. Convert a Date to the User’s Preferred Format

Use CONVERT_DATE_TO_EXTERNAL to display a date based on the user settings.

DATA: lv_date        TYPE sy-datum,
      lv_formatted   TYPE char10.

lv_date = sy-datum.

CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERT_DATE_TO_EXTERNAL'
  EXPORTING
    date_internal = lv_date
  IMPORTING
    date_external = lv_formatted.

WRITE: 'Formatted Date:', lv_formatted.

✅ Automatically formats YYYYMMDD based on user profile

3. Retrieve User Date Format from Table USR01

If you need the date format for another user, query table USR01, field DATFM.

DATA: lv_date_format TYPE char1.

SELECT SINGLE datfm INTO lv_date_format FROM usr01 WHERE bname = sy-uname.

WRITE: 'User Date Format:', lv_date_format.

✅ Fetches the date format stored in user master data
✅ Useful for checking another user’s settings

4. Example: Convert Any Date to User Format Dynamically

DATA: lv_date         TYPE sy-datum,
      lv_date_output  TYPE char10.

lv_date = '20240307'.  " Example: March 7, 2024

CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERT_DATE_TO_EXTERNAL'
  EXPORTING
    date_internal = lv_date
  IMPORTING
    date_external = lv_date_output.

WRITE: 'User-Specific Date:', lv_date_output.

✅ Works for any input date
✅ Follows user’s SAP date format

Summary: Best Methods