PRB: SET CENTURY ROLLOVER Ignores Setting of SET CENTURY OFF

ID: Q167186


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0a


SYMPTOMS

When using the ROLLOVER parameter of SET CENTURY, the SET CENTURY OFF setting is ignored. This results in a date display consisting of either two digits or four digits for the year portion of the date.


RESOLUTION

The reason for the display of the year in either a two- or four-digit format is to differentiate which century the date belongs to.

It is possible to create a custom display format, which presents the date in the MM/DD/YY format along with another field to display which century.

The following program demonstrates a sample method to do this.

Step-by-Step Procedures

  1. Save the following code as Daterev.prg:
    
    *** Begin code ***
          ON  KEY  LABEL f2 CLEAR EVENTS
          ON KEY LABEL f3 DO refresh
          SET CENTURY to 19 ROLLOVER 60
          SET CENTURY off
          dateform=CREATEOBJECT('form')
          WITH dateform
             .width=300
             .height=65
             .ADDOBJECT('text1','textbox')
             WITH .text1
                .format='K'
                .inputmask='99/99/99'
                .left=1
                .top=10
                .width=60
                .value=DTOC(date())
                .visible=.t.
             ENDWITH   && text1
             .ADDOBJECT('label1','label')
             WITH .label1
                .top=50
                .left=90
                .width=120
                .fontbold=.t.
                .caption="Press <F2> to exit form"
                .visible=.t.
             ENDWITH   && label1
             .ADDOBJECT('label2','label')
             WITH .label2
                .caption="Year of date shown is  "+ ;
                   ALLTRIM(STR(YEAR(CTOD(dateform.text1.value))))
                .top=32
                .left=10
                .width=160
                .fontbold=.t.
                .visible=.t.
             ENDWITH   && label2
             .ADDOBJECT('label3','label')
             WITH .label3
                .caption='Press <f3> to refresh after entering new date'
                .top=10
                .left=65
                .width=250
                .fontbold=.t.
                .visible=.t.
             ENDWITH   && label3
             .show
          ENDWITH   && dateform
          READ EVENTS
          ON KEY LABEL f2
          ON KEY LABEL f3
    
          PROCEDURE refresh
             dateform.label2.caption="Year of date shown is: "+ ;
                 ALLTRIM(STR(YEAR(CTOD(dateform.text1.value))))
             dateform.refresh
          RETURN
          *** End code *** 


  2. Run the program, and note that the four-digit display of the date shown is shown below the text box.


  3. Enter a valid date for the 21st century, such as "02/12/55."


  4. Press the F3 key to refresh the display, and note that in the line below the text box, the year is shown as "2055."



STATUS

This behavior is by design.


MORE INFORMATION

The ROLLOVER clause of SET CENTURY command permits ease of entering dates that may cross century boundaries. For example:


SET CENTURY to 19 ROLLOVER 60 
This means that when a two-digit value for a year "60" and greater falls within the 21st century, two-digit values less than 60 fall into the 20th century.

Using the information above, "02/15/97" is deemed the year "1997." And "02/15/55" is interpreted as the year 2055.

To better understand the implications of the ROLLOVER parameter, the following program demonstrates its effect on how dates are displayed.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Save the following code as Formdate.prg:
    
    *** Begin code ***
          ON  KEY  LABEL f2 CLEAR EVENTS
          SET CENTURY to 19 ROLLOVER 60
          SET CENTURY off
          dateform=CREATEOBJECT('form')
          WITH dateform
             .width=120
             .height=65
             .ADDOBJECT('text1','textbox')
             WITH .text1
                .format='K'
                .left=35
                .top=10
                .width=75
                .value=date()
                .visible=.t.
             ENDWITH   && text1
             .ADDOBJECT('label1','label')
             WITH .label1
                .top=35
                .left=1
                .width=120
                .fontbold=.t.
                .caption="Press <F2> to exit form"
                .visible=.t.
             ENDWITH   && label1
             .show
          ENDWITH   && dateform
          READ EVENTS
          ON KEY LABEL f2
          *** End code *** 


  2. Run the program, and note that the current date appears with two digits for year.


  3. In the text box, enter a date with a year less than 60, such as 01/10/56. As soon the "56" is entered, the year is displayed as "2056."


  4. Enter a date with a year greater than 60, such as 12/01/99, and note that the date is shown with only the last two digits of the year omitting the century.


For more information about how Microsoft products are affected by year 2000 (Y2K) issues, please see the following Microsoft World Wide Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/y2k/


REFERENCES

For more information about SET CENTURY, search for CENTURY in the Visual FoxPro Help file.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbprg kb2000 kbVFp kbVFp500 kbVFp500a FxprgGeneral
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: May 24, 1999
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