Date as string in sql editor

I have Advanced ETL latest version. I've been running into difficulties pulling data by date because the sql editor only recognizes my date fields as widestring. I use sql on the Azure platform. I've tried convert and cast but nothing works. Can you give me an example of a string to date conversion that works in the sql editor?

This one should work

Select * from table where date_field<'2001-12-13 01:02:15'

(this is standard ODBC format works 99 percent).

Id it does not publish your sql together with some screenshots

Peter