DT

The DT, DL, and DH format specifications

DT 3 or DT 4
DL 3 or DL 4
DH 3 or DH 4

Description

These utilize binary storage formats corresponding to B, BL and BH. They also perform days() processing utilizing the "current" default date format (mdy/ ymd/ dmy etc.). These formats are intended to reduce the number of changes required for Y2K compliance, and to ease ODBC access to dates stored in 'day of century' format. However, ODBC also has a much more comprehensive date identification scheme.

Technical Considerations

1.) The DAYS() function permits four digit years even if C is not specified in the mask statement.

2.) When days() or DH is used to store a date, normal sorting and indexing becomes Y2K compliant. The days() function, and the date formats eliminate the need for BASEYEAR processing when the values are stored in binary fields. These can subsequently be indexed as character fields so long as they were stored in high-to-low order.