ContactReview :: View topic

unaclancy · GoldMine Journeyman

Hello,

I wonder if anyone could help me with a date conversion question please? I am importing from a date field which is given to me in the format of 29th of March, 2008. I have tried to convert it using CTOD but it shows the result as \ \ \.

Any help would be greatfully welcomed
Thanks
Una

BobTaylor · GoldBox Guru

If you will do a TEMPORARY mapping of any Character Type field to any Date Type in any GoldBox Import, you will get the list of "Date Masks" that GoldBox is designed to handle. And you will find that the "date format" that you have been given does not exist in that list.

Furthermore, the Help Article below describes all the date conversions that can be accomplished using the GoldBox function RealDate(). Again, the function cannot accept the "date format" you have been given (although it is capable of producing it as a Character Type Output).

This causes me to conclude that what you have been given is not actually data; I think you have been given prose masquerading as data. GoldBox simply can't deal with it. You may want to check with Dave Petonic and see if he is willing/able to consider adding what you have to GoldBox.
_________________________
FUNCTION / RealDate()

Description:
Translates a passed in value to another date format. There are 21 possible returns.

Param 1 (reqd):
The date value (Literal, or dBase Field Name) as either a STRING or a DATE.
Param 2 (reqd):
The Code Number of the format you wish to be returned.
Param 3 (opt):
Any value, such as the number 3. Used (optionally) only for Value 19, see below.

Returns:
A translation of the Param 1 date value, based on the value of the 2nd parameter.

Example:
The following assumes Wednesday, February 16th, 2005 as the example date.

Wherever the CtoD() function is used below as the 1st parameter - this indicates passing in a TRUE dBase date value. In your operations, typically this will be a Field Name. Please ensure the Field Type is D for Date. Example: RealDate(Contact2->UBirthday, 21)

Wherever a literal string is used below as the 1st parameter - this indicates passing in a CHARACTER type entry. In your operations, typically this will be a Field Name. Please ensure the Field Type is C for Character. Example: RealDate(SubStr(Contsupp->City, 9, Cool

, 9)

The letter following the call to RealDate() below indicates the data TYPE returned:
{C} = CHARACTER or STRING
{D} = DATE
{N} = NUMERIC

unaclancy · GoldMine Journeyman

Thank you Bob for the reply.

Much appreciated
Una