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# Text to Date

> Transform text into a date.

The **Text to Date** feature transforms a text input into a date output. Date outputs contain a full date (day, month, year). They can also include a full time (seconds, minutes, hours) if desired.

For example, if you set up a text input that describes a date and add no instructions, you'll receive a date result:

**Input:** The fifth day of June in the year two thousand and fifty nine

**Result**: June 5, 2059.

**Text to Date** can extract dates from text and make inferences about a date from text. But you can also ask questions that have an answer in date format. To do this, add instructions that ask the question you want answered.

For example, if you set up your action this way:

**Input:** US Labor Day

**Instructions**: What date is this holiday?

**Result**: September 4, 2023

## Display Options for Text to Date Results

When choosing how to display dates, you have three options: Small, Medium, and Long. This allows you to have flexibility in how much detail you include in the resulting date.

**Small** will show only numerals (9/1/2023).

**Medium** will show the month written out (September 1, 2023).

**Long** will include the day of the week for that date (Friday, September 1, 2023).

For time, you can choose to display the time with or without seconds.

## Adding the Text to Date Feature

#### Data Editor

#### Text to Date Data Editor Arcade

Open the table where you want to use the **Text to Date** feature.

Add a new basic text column for the **Input**. The input can be any column that contains text, so if you've used another action or computed column to create a text result, you can also use that text result as the **Input** source.

* New columns added with the plus button will always appear on the right. If you'd like to add a column somewhere else in your data, you can select the dropdown menu on an existing column and choose **Add column right.** You can also click and drag columns to rearrange them.

Add a **Text to Date** column to store the result. Search for "Text to Date" or navigate to **AI → Text to Date**.

For **Instructions,** enter custom text to create more specificity for your prompt.

For **Input**, use the **Input** column created previously.

**Note:** If the action will be triggered in the Workflow Editor, then add a basic text **Result** column where the result will be stored.

Click on **Done**.

#### Layout Editor

#### Text to Date Layout Arcade

If you have not yet set up the columns you'll need in the Data Editor, start there.

Add a component that supports actions such as [Button](/docs/essentials/components/button), [Hint](/docs/essentials/components/hint), or [Rich Text](/docs/essentials/components/rich-text). Connect this component with the column where the output is stored.

In the configuration panel on the right, in the **Actions** menu, select the **Text to Date** action.

Name the action and choose an icon.

For **Instructions**, choose the column where the instructions are stored, or enter custom text.

For **Input**, choose the column where the input text is stored, or enter custom text.

For **Display,** you can choose to show date & time, date only, or time only. You can also specify the format for the date and time.

To display the text that results from the action, add a [Text Component](/docs/essentials/components/text) and use your **Text to Date** column as the source. This will instantly show the generated date and/or time to your users.

To enable users to adjust the instructions, add a [Text Entry Component](/docs/essentials/components/entry) pointing to an **Instructions** column with the adjustments you want made.

To enable users to adjust the input, add a [Text Entry Component](/docs/essentials/components/entry) pointing to the **Input** column to be able to change the input.

#### Workflow Editor

#### Text to Date Action Editor Arcade

If you have not yet set up the columns you'll need in the Data Editor, start there.

Select the (**+**) plus symbol or the **+ New Workflow** button.

For data source, select the data source of the screen where the action is triggered.

Add **Text to Date** as the first step of the workflow.

For **Instructions,** enter custom text to create more specificity for your prompt.

For the **Input** and **Result** fields, use the **Input** and **Result** columns created previously.

Optionally, add a [Show Notification](/docs/automation/actions/show-notification) action at the end of the workflow to notify the user.

## Frequently Asked Questions

#### Is Text to Date available on all plans?

The **Text to Date** feature requires a paid plan. [Browse our plans to find the right fit for you.](https://www.glideapps.com/pricing)

#### How does Text to Date consume updates?

The **Text to Date** feature will use one update every time it is triggered.