Dts (date time sorting) is used to correctly sort and display dates in a sortable table (see Help:Sorting).

What it solves

ਸੋਧੋ

Dates in their customary formats, if simply treated as alphanumeric text strings, sort in nonsensical ways:

  • 1/8/2013 sorts alphanumerically before 5/3/1967, because 1 is less than 5;
  • February 5, 1922 sorts alphanumerically before January 3, 1922, because F comes before J.

Use of the YYYY-MM-DD format would solve this problem, but with minor exceptions that format is not used in articles (see WP:DATEFORMAT).

This template automatically attaches a "hidden key" to dates, causing them to sort correctly while still being displayed in one of the customary display formats such as February 5, 1922 or 5 Feb 1922.

Parameters

ਸੋਧੋ
The year, month and day can either be entered separately or as a single date.
{{dts|year|month|day|BC}} {{dts|date}}
  • 1st parameter – Year (optional if month is given)
    • Positive number (1 to 999,999,999,999) represent years AD or BC (dependant on the fourth parameter).
    • Negative numbers (−1 to −999,999,999,999) represent years BC (without the fourth parameter).
    • Year numbers must not contain commas or other formatting.
  • 2nd parameter – Month (optional if the day is not given either)
    • Full month name – e.g. February
    • Abbreviated month name – e.g. Feb
    • Month number – (either zero-padded or not) e.g. 2 or 02
  • 3rd parameter – Day (optional)
    • Day number – (either zero-padded or not) e.g. 7 or 07
  • 4th parameter – (optional)
    • May be BC, AD, BCE or CE
    • Used with a positive year number
  • 1st parameter – the full date
    • By default YYYY-MM-DD format becomes month-day-year format while other formats remain in the order they are input.
    • Abbreviated months are accepted and are abbreviated in the output.
    • Capitalisation and comma mistakes are corrected.
    • A single number is interpreted as a year, otherwise the date is parsed by the module. The following formats are accepted:
      • YYYY-MM-DD
      • DD-MM-YYYY
      • DD Month YYYY
      • Month DD, YYYY
      • YYYY-MM
      • DD Month
      • Month DD
      • Month YYYY
      • YYYY
      • Month
    • Day and month numbers may be 1 or 2 digits, and year numbers may only be 3 or 4 digits. If you need to input a number less than 1000, use leading zeroes (e.g. "0700").
    • BC years can only be parsed if the date is only the year number.
    • If you need to include the day or month for BC years or years greater than 9999, you must use separate parameters for year, month and day.


Examples
input style input code hidden sort key visible output
{{dts|year}} {{dts|1893}} 1893
{{dts|-89}} 89 BC
{{dts|-10000}} 10,000 BC
{{dts|month}} {{dts|Oct}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Oct' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Oct' is an invalid date
{{dts|month year}} {{dts|February 1767}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'February 1767' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'February 1767' is an invalid date
{{dts|day month year}} {{dts|12 Aug 1987}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '12 Aug 1987' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '12 Aug 1987' is an invalid date
{{dts|month day, year}} {{dts|July 1, 1867}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'July 1, 1867' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'July 1, 1867' is an invalid date
{{dts|day month}} {{dts|25 October}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '25 October' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '25 October' is an invalid date
{{dts|month day}} {{dts|Jan 1}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jan 1' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jan 1' is an invalid date
{{dts|YYYY-MM-DD}} {{dts|2014-12-09}} ਦਸੰਬਰ 9, 2014
{{dts|year|month}} {{dts|1990|10}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 1990
{{dts|1980|Dec}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Dec' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Dec' is not a valid month
{{dts|1970|August}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'August' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'August' is not a valid month
{{dts|year|month|day}} {{dts|2024|Jun|12}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jun' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jun' is not a valid month
{{dts|-204|11|22}} ਨਵੰਬਰ 22, 204 BC
{{dts|year|month|day|era}} {{dts|44|3|15|BC}} ਮਾਰਚ 15, 44 BC
{{dts|94|Oct|17|AD}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Oct' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Oct' is not a valid month
{{dts|month}} {{dts||May}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'May' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'May' is not a valid month
{{dts|month|day}} {{dts||Sep|12}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Sep' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Sep' is not a valid month

Formatting

ਸੋਧੋ

Using format produces a format that depends on, but is not necessarily equal to the format of the supplied date. The format parameter can take nine values.

Examples
value function input code hidden sort key visible output
  format depends on the input {{dts|26 Jan 1788}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '26 Jan 1788' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '26 Jan 1788' is an invalid date
{{dts|March 12, 1557}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'March 12, 1557' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'March 12, 1557' is an invalid date
{{dts|1975-02-13}} ਫਰਵਰੀ 13, 1975
dmy displays the date in day-month-year format {{dts|Sep 13, 1888|format=dmy}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Sep 13, 1888' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Sep 13, 1888' is an invalid date
{{dts|1983-01-03|format=dmy}} 3 ਜਨਵਰੀ 1983
dm displays only the day and month in day-month format {{dts|Feb 26, 1788|format=dm}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Feb 26, 1788' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Feb 26, 1788' is an invalid date
{{dts|2020-10-15|format=dm}} 15 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ
mdy displays the date in month-day-year format {{dts|August 31, 1901|format=mdy}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'August 31, 1901' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'August 31, 1901' is an invalid date
{{dts|2006-11-08|format=mdy}} ਨਵੰਬਰ 8, 2006
md displays only the day and month in month-day format {{dts|26 Jun 1988|format=md}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '26 Jun 1988' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '26 Jun 1988' is an invalid date
{{dts|2002-02-27|format=md}} ਫਰਵਰੀ 27
my displays only the month and year in month-year format {{dts|16 November 1488|format=my}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '16 November 1488' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '16 November 1488' is an invalid date
d displays only the day {{dts|6 July 1666|format=d}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '6 July 1666' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '6 July 1666' is an invalid date
m displays only the month {{dts|1980-02-12|format=m}} ਫਰਵਰੀ
y displays only the year {{dts|-26|Jan|18|format=y}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jan' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jan' is not a valid month
hide hides the date {{dts|15 October 1800|format=hide}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '15 October 1800' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '15 October 1800' is an invalid date

Abbreviation

ਸੋਧੋ

There are two ways of abbreviating the month name.

  1. Directly input an abbreviated month name.
  2. Use the abbr=on parameter.
Examples
abbreviation method input code hidden sort key visible output
none {{dts|2000-01-01}} ਜਨਵਰੀ 1, 2000
{{dts|2000|1|1}} ਜਨਵਰੀ 1, 2000
{{dts|1 January 2000}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '1 January 2000' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '1 January 2000' is an invalid date
{{dts|2000|January|1}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'January' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'January' is not a valid month
abbreviated input {{dts|1 Jan 2000}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '1 Jan 2000' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '1 Jan 2000' is an invalid date
{{dts|2000|Jan|1}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jan' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'Jan' is not a valid month
abbr=on {{dts|1 January 2000|abbr=on}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: '1 January 2000' is an invalid date Error in Template:Date table sorting: '1 January 2000' is an invalid date
{{dts|2000|January|1|abbr=on}} Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'January' is not a valid month Error in Template:Date table sorting: 'January' is not a valid month
{{dts|2000-01-01|abbr=on}} ਜਨਵਰੀ 1, 2000
{{dts|2000|1|1|abbr=on}} ਜਨਵਰੀ 1, 2000

Additional sort key

ਸੋਧੋ

In case two dates in a table are identical they may be ordered using the addkey parameter.

Examples
input code hidden sort key visible output
{{dts|2010-10-10|addkey=3}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 10, 2010
{{dts|2010-10-09}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 9, 2010
{{dts|2010-10-10|addkey=1}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 10, 2010
{{dts|2010-10-10}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 10, 2010
{{dts|2010-10-10|addkey=4}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 10, 2010
{{dts|2010-10-11}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 11, 2010
{{dts|2010-10-10|addkey=2}} ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 10, 2010

To turn off the suppression of word wraps, use the nowrap=off parameter.

Sorting for incomplete dates

ਸੋਧੋ
Whole months or years
A whole year or month (and year) is sorted according to its first day.
Missing years
If the year is not specified, the date will be sorted as if the year were the current year.
Blank dates
For no date input at all, the maximum possible sort key is used, so the entry will sort last.

Error handling

ਸੋਧੋ

Entering an invalid date format will (generally) produce an error message such as the one below.

Error in Template:Date table sorting: '35 June 1900' is an invalid date

Errors are tracked in Category:Dts templates with errors.

Calendar choice

ਸੋਧੋ

The template is not capable of distinguishing Julian and Gregorian calendar dates. Also, it is not capable of taking a date in one calendar as input and outputting a date in the other calendar. Thus, to insure proper sorting, editors must either use one calendar for all dates, or pick a specific changeover date (for example, deciding that 4 October 1582 is Julian and all later dates are Gregorian); this would be done on an article-by article basis. Editors are also responsible for explaining to the reader whether the visible dates are Julian or Gregorian, if there is any possibility of confusion.

The template formerly linked dates automatically, with link=off used to suppress linking. In accordance with current guidelines linking of dates is no longer supported and instances of link=off should be removed. Transclusions using the |link= parameter are tracked in Category:Dts templates with deprecated parameters.

  • m:Template:dts (backlinks, edit), since on Meta e.g. 09999 9999 induces numeric sort mode, "&" is prefixed to force string sort mode.
  • {{sort}}, sorting by a specified key (also good for complicated numbers, e.g. scientific notation)
  • {{sortname}}, full name sorting (using "last name, first name" as default sort key)
  • {{tts}}, for sorting times in result tables of athletic events (only needed in certain cases - see template documentation)
  • {{mss}}, for sorting times in tables of eclipses
  • {{nts}}, for numbers