I am using the number generated by FMP5 dates as a Lot#. We also use a separated labelling program to print box labels. I was trying to duplicate a calculation so that I could generate that number.

I thought the calculation was this:

(year - 1)* 365 + ABS((year - 1) / 4) + (day of the year)

Calc days ^ Calc leap yr^ Calc act day^

Why is this wrong?

Thanx in advance.

Thomas

Actually it's the number of days since 1/0/0000. Will the other program you're using calculate the number of days between two dates?

Possibly, But I doubt that 1/0/0000 would be considered a valid date.

No it will not calculate number of days. Is there another way?

Could you not create a field to set your own base value rather that using

the value generated by the filemaker date function?

If you go with your original logic, you need to be more accurate on the leap year portion. Use: "(year-1)*365.2425".

Remember that one of the software / date glitches associated with Y2K was due to the fact that there were 29 days in February, but it wasn't a normal 4 year rotation. This happens every 400 years.

[ May 11, 2001: Message edited by: dspires ]

Thanx dspires!

Mark, I could do that but the dates that are valid are from 1901 on and then I would have to add the remaining number to it so it would match with FMP5's number I wanted it to be automatic. I was worried that the dates wouldn't match up. Which in a few hundred years they wouldn't LOL. But now they will be fine until the end of time.

I appreciate all the suggestions and help!

Thomas

Just an FYI

System date on the Mac starts at 1/1/1904 with a value of 1

System date on Windows starts at 1/1/1900 with a value of 0

Found this out dealing with some MS Excel issues between platforms.

[ May 14, 2001: Message edited by: WBlanchard ]

[ May 14, 2001: Message edited by: WBlanchard ]