Date error

[jeremyxxx]

Hi,

I'm using FM7 on MAC and I'm a beginer. I'll try to use the good terms to explain my problem.

My problem is that I'm entering date and I want to set it up YEAR-MONTH-DAY. I've changed it that way i n the LAYOUT, clicked on my date field and went to FORMAT>DATE and changed the format there. Selected Custom, then Year, Month, Date seperated with "-". No problem so far.

Now, in the BROWSE section, it looks as I wanted, YEAR-MONTH-DAY. But when I click on the field, it changes MONTH/DAY/YEAR and I have to enter the data that way. When I hit enter it goes back to YEAR-MONTH-DAY. Now how I do change the fact that when I click on it, I have to enter the date in the MONTH/DAY/YEAR instead of what I want, the YEAR-MONTH-DAY format?

It's probably basic usage but I couldnt find it.

Thanks

Jeremy

[Raybaudi]

Hi

when you use the Format Menu, you only change the appearence of the date, not the date itself.

To obtain what you wish you have to enter the date into a text field ( but you'll loose your real date ).

The real date can be rebuild with:

Date(Month(middle(textField;6;2); Day(Right(textField;2);Year(Left(textField;4))

but you have to be sure that the user will enter the text in the exact format: AAAA-MM-GG !

[Genx]

Alternatively, as i just discovered thanks to comment, change the settings on your computer in control panel equiv on mac --> to be Year-Month-Date, then clone your file.

Second step is in your original file, (under file --> file options --> Text Tab --> Data Entry Section) Change your settings to be: Always use system settings.

Close the file and open it again on this same computer. Export all your data (if you have any) --> open your cloned file and import all the data.

In your cloned file, Repeat the second step above, except this time change your settings to be: Always use file settings (your file inherits the settings of the computer on which it was created). Then proceed to re-import all your data.

Hope this helped.

~Genx

[comment]

Actually, there are TWO possible solutions for this:

1.

- Change your OS 'Short Date' format (System preferences > International > Formats) to Year-Month-Date;

- Set your file to 'Always use current system settings'.

This will enable (and require) entry in the yyyy-mm-dd format on your computer only (as long as the OS setting remains).

2.

- Change your OS 'Short Date' format to Year-Month-Date;

- Clone your file;

- Set the clone to 'Always use file's saved settings';

- Import data into the clone.

This will force entry in the yyyy-mm-dd format on any computer, regardless of the OS setting.

[Genx]

I don't enjoy relying on the first format, lol it caused me far to many problems with user's whinging and it took me two days to work out that problem, plus the system time/date format somehow keeps resetting on some users computers.