Multiple date format

shrey3a · Post by **shrey3a** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:10 am

Hi Gurus,

I've input date coming in all the different format , our requirement is to convert the date in YYYY-MM-DD format.

I tried using Iconv, Oconv combination but it fails at some point.
Wondering if there is any code available or I've tocreate a routine with case statement.

Thanks

DSguru2B · Post by **DSguru2B** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:19 am

What are all the possible formats? Can you provide a list. ICONV with Date option should work for most of them. Thats why I requested for a list of all formats so that the odd one out can be factored in.

shrey3a · Post by **shrey3a** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:23 am

YYYY-MM-DD
MM-DD-YYYY
DD-MM-YYYY
MM/DD/YYYY
DD/MM/YYYY

I need to check if its YYYY-MM-DD then ok otherwise conver it to YYYY-MM-DD

Regards

DSguru2B wrote:What are all the possible formats? Can you provide a list. ICONV with Date option should work for most of them. Thats why I requested for a list of all formats so that the odd one out can be factored in.

DSguru2B · Post by **DSguru2B** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:37 am

You will have to request for a consistent format. This is going to be a challenge as per programming. For example, how can you tell which part is day and which part is month in "01/01/2004". It could be either DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY.
You will have to either ask for a consistent date format per dataset.

Titto · Post by **Titto** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:53 am

I think if you know the number of distinct format then using iconv and if condition change the target format.

shrey3a · Post by **shrey3a** » Fri May 04, 2007 11:00 am

That what I was trying to do nut not succesful as how can you tell Iconv function that its particular format if not then go to next condition.

It might be simple but not clicking to me

Thanks

Titto wrote:I think if you know the number of distinct format then using iconv and if condition change the target format.

DSguru2B · Post by **DSguru2B** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:54 pm

Its not do-able. I would love to be proven wrong. But its not possible. You tell me, what date is "09-05-2006"? Is it "9th of May, 2006" or "5th of September, 2006".

chulett · Post by **chulett** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:46 pm

It's more possible than you imagine.

Check the sdk Date routine called 'DateGenerticToTimestamp', perhaps just use it directly or 'adapt' the code into your own routine.

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:47 pm

It's totally impossible if there's a mix of DD/MM/YY and MM/DD/YY because of the ambiguity inherent therein. Demand a consistent format or a format flag.