-- card: 45653 from stack: in.3r
-- bmap block id: 0
-- flags: 0000
-- background id: 2202
-- name: convertDate


-- part contents for background part 10
----- text -----
15

-- part contents for background part 19
----- text -----
Functions

-- part contents for background part 3
----- text -----
convertDate

-- part contents for background part 2
----- text -----
--This is a general function to convert date formats from
--standard HyperCard format:  m/d/yy    (m or d can have 1 or 2 digits)
--to TPS/IBM format:               yymmdd

--Returns "format error" if format is not correct

--examples: 
--convertdate(the date)    gives  880528    (if today's date is 5/28/88)
--convertdate("12/1/88")   gives  881201
--convertdate(5/3/88) doesn't work because HyperCard evaluates the 
--expression (2 divisions) before passing the argument to the function.
--however, put the date into Y followed by convertdate(Y) does work
--(apparently HC uses a special hidden marker for dates?)
--From:
--Peter Sylvan
--65 Valley Road 
--Milton, MA 02186
--
--I would like to thank Peter for sending in this contribution to the Developer Stack. [Steve].

function convertdate x  -- input format  m/d/yy, output format  yymmdd
  convert x to date   --  adjust date to real calendar if necessary
  if char 3 of x is "/" then  --  two digits in the input m
    put char 1 to 2 of x into mm
    put empty into char 1 to 3 of x
  else if char 2 of x is "/" then  -- only one digit in the input m
    put "0" & char 1 of x into mm
    put empty into char 1 to 2 of x
  else
    return "format error"  -- perhaps should return empty?
  end if
  if char 3 of x is "/" then
    put char 1 to 2 of x into dd
    put empty into char 1 to 3 of x
  else if char 2 of x is "/" then
    put "0" & char 1 of x into dd
    put empty into char 1 to 2 of x
  else
    return "format error"
  end if
  return x & mm & dd
end cdate