The operations that set the TIME and TIMESTAMP formats are best described as a hierarchy, where one setting overrides another.
At the lowest level, the system comes with a default TIME and TIMESTAMP format. Your system administrator can override the formats by creating a custom SDF that changes the default TIME and TIMESTAMP formats.
You can override the system-level TIME or TIMESTAMP format for an individual column or individual value.
The following table summarizes the hierarchy of TIME and TIMESTAMP formats.
| For this operation … | The format is set for … | And field mode display format … |
|---|---|---|
| SELECT with FORMAT phrase | an individual column | as defined by FORMAT. |
| CREATE / ALTER TABLE, with FORMAT phrase | ||
| Default TIME or TIMESTAMP format in custom SDF | the system | as defined by the TIME and TIMESTAMP format in the SDF. |