There are two ways to enter a date   

1. Simply Click on ICON beside each date field and the auto CALENDAR will pop up.     Just select the date you want and the Calendar will  enter it automatically.
   In most cases Auto calendar will allow you to choose between entering the full date.. Days, Months and Years or a partial date ...Months and Years only.                     

OR alternatively   

2. Dates may be entered by typing directly into the date field as follows...( European date format    ddmmyyyy  - Day followed by Month followed by the Year.  )

• you enter 171204 field returns 17/12/2004 or you enter 171296 field returns 17/12/1996

• you enter 17122004 field returns 17/12/2004 or

• 17-12-01 or 17.12.2001 or 17,12,2001 or 17y12q01  ..(in the format dd X mm X yyyy  where "X" is any sign not in 0..9 range, i.e. "-" or "/" ) -then the field returns 17/12/2001

• The date field will also accept a partial date -(Month and Year only)- 
  ...use  '--' (dashes ) instead of  the days 'dd' ie --/12/2001.