# Identify Date Columns

In Reports with Table as Input Sprinkle offers various functionalities for **Date columns**.

Sprinkle automatically identifies a Date column in the input table if its values are in proper Date format additionally you can also manually identify any column as a Date column.

**Identify a Date Column**

To Identify a column as a Date column you need to go to the column name and click on the more options icon. A new "**Identify as Date**" modal opens up where you can see the Data Type, choose the Format of the date, and Preview the date column.

The special Date icon will also appear alongside the Date column in the Column section.

**Remove as Date Option**

You can also remove Date options from auto Identified or manually-identified date columns.

You need to click on the Dropdown button along the Date Column name and choose the "Remove as Date" option.

Date Column also comes with different functions which you can use in reports as per requirement. 

#### Date Functions available for Date Columns:

* Hour 
* Week 
* Month 
* Quarter 
* Year 
* Date 
* Date & Time 
* ISO Year 
* ISO Week

#### How to Apply Date Function:

1. Select or Drag the identified Date column to the Group by Section. 
2. Click on the Dropdown button along the Date Column name. 
3. A dropdown list will pop up consisting of all the above-mentioned Date functions. 
4. Choose the relevant function and then Run the Report.

Using these different date functions you can create multiple reports with the same Date Column but with different levels of data. These date functions can also be used in Filters.

For eg: You have a Report on "Monthly Sales" using the Month date function on the OrderDate column. You may quickly select a different date function say Quarter and click on Run to get the updated data.

Date functions can be used with Bar Charts Reports, Line Charts, and other visualization reports.


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