Filemaker Dates stored as number.

[tomlepk]

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

[dspires]

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?

[tomlepk]

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

[tomlepk]

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

[markpro]

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

the value generated by the filemaker date function?

[dspires]

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 ]

[tomlepk]

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

[WBlanchard]

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 ]