REXX and dates from commands

I have a question regarding using REXX as a command processing program, and
passing date data types from a command.

 

In a command/CL processing environment, date data types are passed in CYMD
format. In a command/REXX processing environment, dates appear to be passed
in the form they are typed, not in a standardized format.

 

The REXX code to receive the date parameter is:

Parse arg 'COSTDATE(' costdate ')'

 

The command defines costdate as a date data type.

 

If I run the command with costdate(090105), the data is passed as '090105'
to REXX; costdate('09/01/2005') is passed as '09/01/2005'. In both instances
a CL program would receive '1050901'.

 

What techniques do you use when using dates passed from a command to a REXX
command processing program? Is there a standard API I can call to perform
the conversion?

 

Thanks,

Loyd

 

 

Loyd Goodbar

Senior programmer/analyst

BorgWarner

E/TS Water Valley

662-473-5713