date format

[LVA]

There is a great big problem with the date formats. I don't know why but there are some date fields that sometimes when I save a file as clone and import new records these date fields turn up with a different date format and when I try to find a date period in this file using this date field the result doesn't have the correct dates.

Is there some trick with the date fields when making a file copy (save as clone or save the current records).

Luiza

[Lee Smith]

Hi Luiza

There is a great big problem with the date formats. I don't know why but there are some date fields that sometimes when I save a file as clone and import new records these date fields turn up with a different date format and when I try to find a date period in this file using this date field the result doesn't have the correct dates.

Without seeing the files and the data being imported, I would guess that it lays within the data being imported.

FileMaker is very fussy on how a date should be formatted, and when in doubt, it leaves it as text.

You could do a sort in FileMaker on the field and you will see all of the non date entries grouped together usually at the top (if I remember right). If you click in the fileld for one of the bad dates, you might see extra spaces by moving your cursor around. If this is the case, there are some tricks for removing them, so come back to the list.

In any case, I would examine the data being imported very carefully for extra spaces before or after.

[LVA]

Sorry I didn't express myself properly.

I mean by a different date format that the format should be brazilian as originally it is. My client sometimes has some new demands on scripts and other things. After each each time I go to my clients office I bring a system copy. When he asks for any new script or some other need he may have I work on this copy and when I finish I create a clone and take to his office to sustitute the old file for this new one.

When I import the records to this clone file the date field has an english format instead of the brazilian format as it originally should be. Before I import the records I checked the date field and it had the brazilian format and to search for a date worked perfectly. The data in the date fields are imported correctly but the problem is when I have to search for a record using the date field. I have no idea what is going on.

[Vaughan]

Check that the computer's operating system date preference is set to Brazillian.

[LVA]

Everytime what I described above happens I check if the computer's operating system date preference is set to Brazillian and if it isn't I correct it, but it still doesn't solve the problem.

I guess it's something related to during development or during the file changes when I take the files I've worked on and change them on the clients server.

Luiza

[alexliz]

Make sure you include a startup script to run when the system is switched on (ie when the client double clicks his database icon), and include in that script the command:

Set Use System Formats (On)

This will force the database to adopt the Brazilian date format as long as the Settings in your client's computer are set to Brazil.

HTH,

Alex.