RE: AS400 Date Window For *MDY

Jim,

I think that this would be a difficult move for IBM to make. It would place
them in a position of breaking existing code by changing the documented
behaviour of the operating system. This is something that they,
understandably, are always reluctant to do.

Personally, I would like to see them add an enhancement that allows a
customer to specify their own window for 6 digit dates. The time to do this
is now, before the use of the date data type becomes so pervasive that
changing it's behaviour is no longer an option.

I'm somewhat confused as to why IBM did it that way in the first place. It
seems to me that a sliding window would be much more usefull.

I completely agree with you that it would eventually become an OPP. I
certainly don't plan on writing any more code at that age. However, it is my
problem TODAY - because I'm aware of it. And I feel a moral responsibility
to address it now, before it becomes a big problem. Unfortunately, at the
present time, that means avoiding the use of the date data type for 6 digit
date formats.


John



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
> [mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Jim Langston
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 5:24 PM
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: AS400 Date Window For *MDY
>
>
> Well, basically Taylor, if we are using IBM's date fields, and the year
> 2040 approaches, IBM is going to have to do something to update
> the date fields.  When that happens, our programs will still work without
> us having to do anything.
>
> It now becomes an OPP (Other Person's Problem).
>
> Regards,
>
> Jim Langston
>
> John Taylor wrote:
>
> > Judging from the responses to this thread, it appears that we
> have chosen to
> > deal with this by sticking our heads in the sand, or passing
> the buck - yet
> > again.
> >
> > Ironically, if someone were to suggest that we store those dates in *MDY
> > format (true date fields) within the database, there would be
> no shortage of
> > people standing in line to explain why that is a bad thing.
> >
> > John Taylor
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <KLChilds@aol.com>
> > To: <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 13:36
> > Subject: Re: AS400 Date Window For *MDY
> >
> > > LOL  !!!
> > > +---
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