# How to Use the FORMAT Option in the Expression Builder

The Expression Builder allows you to create expressions to format values for different display options.

Note: The format strings are based on the standard Microsoft .Net format strings (Numeric Formats, Custom Numeric Formats, and Date & Time Formats).

Below are examples using the following tag values:

- $FloatVar = 1543.456321
- $IntVar = 255
- $TimeVar = "25/03/2002 15:54:30 pm"

To display a floating value to only three decimal places:

- $FloatVar FORMAT "F3" = 1543.456

To display a value in Hexadecimal format:

- $IntVar FORMAT "X" = FF

To display a value in exponential notation:

- $FloatVar FORMAT "E" = 1.543456E+003

To display a date value as a short date, only:

- $TimVar FORMAT "d" = "25/03/2002"