get custom date time format - sql-server

Question

I want to display date time as eg. Dec 1, 09 11:22:45 PM using SQL query
Currently my format is :
DATENAME(Month, (((MachineGroups.TimeAdded*10000000)+ 621355968000000000) -599266080000000000) / 864000000000) + SPACE(1) + DATENAME(d, (((MachineGroups.TimeAdded*10000000)+ 621355968000000000) - 599266080000000000) / 864000000000) +', ' + DATENAME(year, (((MachineGroups.TimeAdded*10000000)+621355968000000000) - 599266080000000000) /864000000000) + SPACE(1)+DATENAME (hour,(((MachineGroups.TimeAdded*10000000)+621355968000000000) - 599266080000000000) / 864000000000) + ':' +DATENAME (minute,(((MachineGroups.TimeAdded*10000000)+ 621355968000000000) - 599266080000000000) / 864000000000) + ':' +DATENAME (second,(((MachineGroups.TimeAdded*10000000)+ 621355968000000000) - 599266080000000000) / 864000000000) AS Expr2
Ussing the above i get eg. December 1, 2009 23:22:45
I tries using the cuatom formata of "MMM" and "yy" but it did not work
any suggestions???
thanks
Is there no way i can use the Datename property above to get my desired format??

Answer 1

It is much easier and more efficient to return the value as a generic datetime object and format it in your UI.
What is your motivation for returning a formatted date from the database?

Answer 2

This will get you everything but AM/PM:
declare #myDate datetime
set #myDate = getdate()
select LEFT(DATENAME(MM, #myDate),3) + ' ' +
RIGHT('0'+DATENAME(DD, #myDate),2) + ', ' +
RIGHT(DATENAME(YY, #myDate),2) + ' ' +
convert(varchar,(DATEPART(hour, #myDate))) + ':' + convert(varchar,(DATEPART(minute, #myDate))) + ':' + convert(varchar,(DATEPART(second, #myDate)))
There are various ways to achieve the AM/PM values, among them would be a substring of:
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 109)

Answer 3

As well as MONTHNAME (which you're already using), check out DATEPART. It's also not far from the CONVERT format of 9 [via CONVERT (VARCHAR(20), #datetime, 9)], so you could manipulate this as well.
Yet another option is using two CONVERTs ... this gives you what you want, but the time's in 24hr format:
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(20), #datetime, 107) + ' ' + CONVERT (VARCHAR(20), #datetime, 108)
Use a different conversion function and a bit of string manipulation to get you 12 hour with AM/PM. Or do something like this:
SELECT CAST(DATEPART(hh, #datetime) - 12 AS VARCHAR)
+ ':' + CAST(DATEPART(mi, #datetime) AS VARCHAR)
+ ':' + CAST(DATEPART(ss, #datetime) AS VARCHAR)
+ CASE WHEN DATEPART(hh, #datetime) BETWEEN 0 AND 11 THEN ' AM' ELSE ' PM' END
Neither this or manipulating the output of CONVERT is pretty, but they're your best options.
HOWEVER: as others have pointed out though, this is normally better done client/UI-side rather than SQL-side.

Answer 4

You can find all supported SQL Server formats here.
To select in a format equivalent to Dec 1, 09 11:22:45 PM, you could use the date from format 7: Mon dd, yy. The time can be assembled from format 109: mon dd yyyy hh:mi:ss:mmmAM (or PM). Combined:
select
convert(varchar(10), getdate(), 7) +
' ' +
stuff(
substring(
convert(varchar(32), getdate(), 109)
,13,14) -- Substring HH:mi:ss.mmmAM
,9,4,' ') -- Replace .mmm by one space
This should print:
Nov 24, 09 4:58:36 PM
The second of the two spaces between 09 and 4 is reserved for a two-number hour, like 11:59:59 PM. :)