Django french short date format translation bug

[Olivier Pons]

This bug has persisted for over 8 years:

English: SHORT_DATE_FORMAT = "m/d/Y"

In French, it should be: SHORT_DATE_FORMAT = "d/m/Y"

However, it's currently set to: SHORT_DATE_FORMAT = "j N Y"

This results in an incorrect translation:

For English: "08/18/2023" should translate to "18/08/2023" for a "short" format.

But as it stands now:
English: "08/18/2023" translates to "18 août 2023", which is not an expected short date format.

As a workaround, we're using Babel, which returns the correct short version = "d/m/Y":

from datetime import date
from babel.dates import format_date
from django.utils.translation import get_language

formatted_date = format_date(date.today(), "short", locale=get_language())`

[Claude Paroz]

Makes sense. However, as the real short format is different at least between fr_FR (d/m/Y), fr_CH (d.m.Y), and fr_BE (d.m.Y), a proper resolution would be to provide formats.py-only specific locale for fr_CH and fr_BE. (this may be the reason for the current value)

[Olivier Pons]

Perhaps the official version is "d.m.Y" – I haven't really checked precisely. It will always be better than the current version. This would standardize and have only one language for the three "fr".

[Claude Paroz]

No, we have to differentiate between fr (or fr_FR) and fr_CH/fr_BE.

[Amir Karimi]

So, it seems if we just copy fr folder and paste it as fr_CH like what we have done for es, and just separate fr_CH/BE from fr, it will be resolved.

[Olivier Pons]

We should not only copy the fr folder and rename it as fr_CH (like we did for es), and distinguish between fr_CH / fr_BE and fr, but also change the date format in the fr_FR version from "j N Y" to "d/m/Y". Doing so should resolve the issue."

[Claude Paroz]

​Suggested PR. This would need confirmation by Belgian/Canadian French speakers.

[Mariusz Felisiak]

Waiting for fr_CA formats.

[Simon Charette]

Submitted the fr_CA variant.

[Olivier Pons]

Thank you for the detailed discussion on the date format variations across different French locales. I appreciate the insights. Which Belgian/Canadian French speakers are qualified and accredited to validate this ticket and provide a final decision on the proposed changes?

[Claude Paroz]

I don't think any decision has to be made. It's a matter of finishing the patch.

[Mariusz Felisiak <felisiak.mariusz@…>]

In fdf14cf:

Fixed #34784 -- Adjusted SHORT_DATE_FORMAT in various French variants.

[Mariusz Felisiak <felisiak.mariusz@…>]

In 1ac39767:

Refs #34784 -- Added fr_CA locale formats.

Formating rules sourced from

• ​https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/clefsfp/index-fra.html?lang=fra&lettr=indx_catlog_d&page=9lcOojjUrxt8.html
• ​https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/21241/la-typographie/nombres/ecriture-des-dates-et-des-heures-dans-certains-contextes-techniques
• ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_and_time_notation_in_Canada
• ​https://metacpan.org/dist/DateTime-Locale/view/lib/DateTime/Locale/fr_CA.pod