Just copy pasting online help .... SET DATEFORMAT Sets the order of the dateparts (month/day/year) for entering datetime or smalldatetime data. Syntax SET DATEFORMAT { format | @format_var } Arguments format | @format_var Is the order of the dateparts. Can be either Unicode or DBCS converted to Unicode. Valid parameters include mdy, dmy, ymd, ydm, myd, and dym. The U.S. English default is mdy. Remarks This setting is used only in the interpretation of character strings as they are converted to date values. It has no effect on the display of date values. The setting of SET DATEFORMAT is set at execute or run time and not at parse time. Permissions SET DATEFORMAT permissions default to all users. Examples This example uses different date formats to handle date strings in different formats. SET DATEFORMAT mdy GO DECLARE @datevar datetime SET @datevar = '12/31/98' SELECT @datevar GO SET DATEFORMAT ydm GO DECLARE @datevar datetime SET @datevar = '98/31/12' SELECT @datevar GO SET DATEFORMAT ymd GO DECLARE @datevar datetime SET @datevar = '98/12/31' SELECT @datevar GO
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