---
title: "bcp_getcolfmt | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "03/14/2017"
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  - "bcp_getcolfmt function"
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---
# bcp_getcolfmt
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md](../../includes/appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md.md)]

  Used to find the column format property value.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```  
  
RETCODE bcp_getcolfmt (  
        HDBC hdbc,  
        INT field,  
        INT property,  
        void* pValue,  
        INT cbvalue,  
        INT* pcbLen);  
```  
  
## Arguments  
 *hdbc*  
 Is the bulk copy-enabled ODBC connection handle.  
  
 *field*  
 Is the column number for which the property is retrieved.  
  
 *property*  
 Is one of the property constants.  
  
 *pValue*  
 Is the pointer to the buffer from which to retrieve the property value.  
  
 *cbValue*  
 Is the length of the property buffer in bytes.  
  
 *pcbLen*  
 Pointer to length of the data that is being returned in the property buffer.  
  
## Returns  
 SUCCEED or FAIL.  
  
## Remarks  
 Column format property values are listed in the [bcp_setcolfmt](../../relational-databases/native-client-odbc-extensions-bulk-copy-functions/bcp-setcolfmt.md) topic. The column format property values are set by calling the **bcp_setcolfmt** function, and the **bcp_getcolfmt** function is used to find the column format property value.  
  
 Behavior changes may be observed when connecting to a [!INCLUDE[ssSQL11](../../includes/sssql11-md.md)] (or later) server computer, compared to earlier [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] versions. For more information, see [Metadata Discovery](../../relational-databases/native-client/features/metadata-discovery.md).  
  
## bcp_getcolfmt Support for Enhanced Date and Time Features  
 The types used with the **BCP_FMT_TYPE** property for date/time types are as specified in [Bulk Copy Changes for Enhanced Date and Time Types (OLE DB and ODBC)](../../relational-databases/native-client-odbc-date-time/bulk-copy-changes-for-enhanced-date-and-time-types-ole-db-and-odbc.md).  
  
 For more information, see [Date and Time Improvements (ODBC)](../../relational-databases/native-client-odbc-date-time/date-and-time-improvements-odbc.md).  
  
## See Also  
 [Bulk Copy Functions](../../relational-databases/native-client-odbc-extensions-bulk-copy-functions/sql-server-driver-extensions-bulk-copy-functions.md)