date
Updated: January 21, 2005
Displays the current system date setting. Used without parameters, date displays the current system date setting and prompts you to type a new date.
Syntax
date [MM-DD-YY[YY]]
[/t]
Parameters
MM-DD-YY[YY]
Sets the date specified where MM is month,
DD is day, and YY[YY] is year.
/t
Displays the current date without prompting you for
a new date.
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
- You must separate values for MM, DD, and YY[YY] with periods (.), hyphens (-), or slash marks (/).
- Valid MM values are 1 through 12.
- Valid DD values are 1 through 31.
- Valid YY[YY] values are 80 through 99, or 1980 through 2099.
- Windows XP changes the month and year automatically, whether the month has 28, 29, 30, or 31 days.
Examples
To change the date to August 3, 2000, type any of the following:
08.03.00
08-03-00
08/03/00
To display the current system date, type:
date /t
Formatting legend
| Format | Meaning |
| Italic | Information that the user must supply |
| Bold | Elements that the user must type exactly as shown |
| Ellipsis (...) | Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line |
| Between brackets ([]) | Optional items |
| Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} | Set of choices from which the user must choose only one |
| Courier font | Code or program output |