Date Parameter Input Format

[crogers111]

CR XI
SQL

Is there a way to control or customize the format of data entry for a date parameter ?
The paramater window that appears when running reports states the following for date parameter data entry:

Please enter Date in format "yyyy-mm-dd".

Not a problem for users that use the calendar to select the dates, but I hav some users that want to type in a date and want to do so in a format as they do with other in-house apps: mm/dd/yyyy

- Under File | Options | Fields TAB I have the DATE & DATE TIME to be 3/1/2011 type format which works for controlling the display on the report.

Is there a way to have a date parameter where users can type in a date in the format: mm/dd/yyyy

 

[CoSpringsGuy]

Since you are on XI you probably dont want to hear this unless you are needing a reason to upgrade but one of my favorite features of 1008/2011 is you can use either date format to enter a date in the parameter field and it recognizes it. (yyyy-mm-dd or mm/dd/yyyy)

In XI, if it is a major issue, you could change your format to a string and allow the user to input mm/dd/yyyy and use a formula like this
to create a date and use with record selection or whatever you need....
date(tonumber(split({?datetest},"/")[3]),tonumber(split({?datetest},"/")[1]),tonumber(split({?datetest},"/")[2]))

_____________________________________
Crystal Reports 2011 and XI
Intersystems Cache 2012 ODBC connection

 

[CoSpringsGuy]

you could even allow for both entry methods using this formula (sorry I got to playing with it... I really need to find a job)

if instr({?datetest},"/") > 0 then
date(tonumber(split({?datetest},"/")[3]),tonumber(split({?datetest},"/")[1]),tonumber(split({?datetest},"/")[2]))
else
date (tonumber(split({?datetest},"-")[1]),tonumber(split({?datetest},"-")[2]),tonumber(split({?datetest},"-")[3]))

_____________________________________
Crystal Reports 2011 and XI
Intersystems Cache 2012 ODBC connection

 

[PhxDevGuy]

This might be a viable alternative as well. It will accept dashes or slashes; also, will accept 1-2 digits for month and day and 2 digits for year.

Parameter prompts (as a sample example) which would be strings:

From Enter Beginning Date (mm/dd/yy)
To Enter Ending Date (mm/dd/yy)

Data select statement:

Dbo.database.table.date in date (?From) to date (?To)

Does not do any error checking for actual proper format, i.e. insertion of slashes or dashes.

 

[PhxDevGuy]

As a side note to the above post, the year is not even required if it's within the current year.

User could enter 1/1 to 2/29 which would result in anything in January or February, 2012 (assuming the run time date is in 2012).

 

[PhxDevGuy]

Going to try my example upload again ... pray for me! Hope this all helps.