date data types, formatting in STRSQL

Hey all,

Is there any way to change the way date data types are formated when
displayed in a STRSQL session?

I tried:
SELECT mydatefield from myfile
and
SELECT DATE(mydatefield) from myfile
and
SELECT CAST(mydatefield as date) from myfile

all three show the date as mm/dd/yy.

STRSQL DATFMT(*ISO) DATSEP('-') has no effect on the above.

SET OPTION DATFMT=*ISO is not allowed outside of a REXX or other
imbedded sql HLL.

what am I missing here?  the problem is I have dates that are lower
than 1935, (or whatever the cutoff date is) and they're showing up as
++++++++

I get a data mapping error on those dates when I run it with debug on.

thanks,

Rick