WD98: How to Determine the Number of Days Between Two Dates

Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
Article ID: Q182432
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

To determine the number of days between two dates, using Visual Basic for Applications, you can convert dates to serial numbers and subtract one number from the other.

MORE INFORMATION

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

The following Visual Basic for Applications sample macro prompts for a date in the mm/dd/yy format, and returns the number of days between the current date and the specified date.

The DateValue() function converts a specified date, beginning with December 30, 1899, to a serial number.

Syntax: DateValue(DateText$)

Examples

   x = DateValue("12/30/1899")  ' returns 0 or zero
   x = DateValue("12/31/1899")  ' returns 1
   x = DateValue("12/5/1992")   ' returns 33943

The Sgn() function is used to determine if the difference between two dates is a negative (date in the past) or positive (date in the future) number.

   Sub DayDiff()
      Dim sDate As String
      Dim intNumDays As Integer
      On Error GoTo errhandler
      ' Prompt for a date.
      sDate = InputBox$("Enter a date in the mm/dd/yyyy format")
      ' Get difference between dates.
      intNumDays = CInt(DateValue(sDate) - Now())
      ' Determine if difference is past or future.
      If Sgn(intNumDays) = 1 Then
         MsgBox "Days between " + sDate + " and today :" + CStr(intNumDays)
      Else
         MsgBox "The date " + sDate + " was" + CStr(Abs(intNumDays)) _
         + " day(s) ago."
      End If
   errhandler:
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox "Please enter a valid date."
   End Sub

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q181058
   TITLE     : OFF98: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for 
               Applications


Additional query words: vb vba vbe calculate difference
Keywords : kbcode kbprg kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample OffVBA macword98
Version : MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Hardware : MAC
Issue type : kbhowto


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Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
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