How to Validate a Character Date Field

ID: Q128539

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5x, 2.6, and 2.6a
Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.5x, 2.6, and 2.6a

SUMMARY

This article shows by example how to check the validity of a date that was entered into a character field instead of a date field.

MORE INFORMATION

The following function (DATEEVAL) shows how an entered character date can be verified to determine if it was entered in a valid date format that could be converted to an actual date by using the CTOD() function.

   FUNCTION DATEEVAL
   PARAMETERS Datevar
   IF ISDIGIT(DTOC(CTOD(Datevar)))
      RETURN .T.
   ELSE
      RETURN .F.
   ENDIF

This function respects the settings for SET DATE and SET CENTURY. It also assumes the default American (MM/DD/YY) format.

Here's how you would call the DATEEVAL function:

   Datevar="09/22/95"
   IF DATEEVAL(Datevar)
      WAIT WINDOW "This is a valid date!"
   ELSE
      WAIT WINDOW "This date is not in the proper format!"
   ENDIF

Additional reference words: FoxWin FoxDos 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60 2.60a KBCategory: kbprg kbcode KBSubcategory: FxprgGeneral

Last Reviewed: June 27, 1995