2013-08-01 in the data file is August 1st 2013.

When I build a new report I want the field type to call this a date and not a string. I don't want to have to convert in the program. That is overkill.

I tried to change overall options so that "DATE" format was not the system default but instead custom
YYYY MM DD, with a separator of a dash '-"
Then I build a new report as a test starting all over thinking this would trick crystal report this field as a date, but no , it is still string.

How to simplify?
SQL and Excel both have no issues with this field being already defaulting as a string

Monthname(tonumber(mid({CalendarDropDates.DropDate},6,2))) ;

errors out "the string is non-numeric"

2013-08-01 in data
Where mid of 6 for 2 would be an 08
then to number of a string 08 would return an 8
then monthname of an 8 would return August

but no such luck crystal "sxcks"

I cheated and went to SQL, changed date to datetime, all ispeachy fine thanks for your help