Using Format Masks for Items

The Application Express engine applies globalization settings for each rendered page. This default behavior can impact the display of certain items such as numbers and dates.

For example, suppose your application determines the application language based on the user's browser language preference. If the Application Express engine determines the users's browser language preference is French, it displays dates and numbers in a format that conforms to French standards. You can override this default behavior and explicitly control how items display by applying a format mask. You apply a format mask by making a selection from the Display As list:

When you create the item
After you create the item by editing the item attributes

The following procedure describes how to edit item attributes for items having the source type of Database Column.

To edit item attributes:

On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.
Select an application.
Select a page.

The Page Definition appears.
Under Items, select the item name.

The Edit Page Item page appears.
Under Name, make a selection from the Display As list.
Under source, select or enter a format mask.