Show zeros in StringVar fomula?

[staciann]

Hi. I have an 8 character text field with data that I want to use for a date in a format like this 'MM/DD - MM/DD'

I have the formula {@dateformat}:

StringVar DF := {tblMeetings.Date}; 
Val (DF [ 1 to 2 ])&"/"&
Val (DF [ 3 to 4 ])&" - "&
Val (DF [ 5 to 6 ])&"/"&
Val (DF [ 7 to 8 ])

that formats my text data like '12/10 - 12/15'
(which is what I want)

My problem is that when I have a value group that contains a single value with a zero in front of it, the zero isn't showing up. Instead of 01/09 - 01/14 I am getting 1/9 - 1/14, even though the data in the record reads 01090114.

Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong or what I have to do to include the zeros?

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[lbass]

You shouldn't be using val(). How does the original string display? Does it already contain the zeros? Please show sample data that reflects the possible variation in the field.

-LB

 

[staciann]

Hi LB -

Some examples of the original data are:

01030105
04090412
06230626
10091013
11261130
12141216

The way I'd like them formatted in my report:

01/03 - 01/05
04/09 - 04/12
06/23 - 06/26
10/09 - 10/13
11/26 - 11/30
12/14 - 12/16

 

[lbass]

Use:

stringvar x := {tblMeetings.Date};
left(x,2)+"/"+mid(x,3,2)+" - "+
mid(x,5,2)+"/"+right(x,2)

-LB

 

[staciann]

That worked great - the only thing now (sorry, I forgot to mention it in my sample data) is the I have some dates that are only one day, not a range so the data would be:

1204
0131

and now they are showing up as
12/04 - /04
01/31 - /31

since right(x,2) then refers back the the last two of the four digits.

I'm sure I can use an if then else statement but I'm not sure how to describe what would be null. How would I say:
if there aren't more than 4 characters then left(x,2)+"/"+right(x,2)?

 

[staciann]

Never mind, I got it to work!
I used:

stringvar x := {tblMeetings.Date};
if mid(x,5,2)=""
then
left(x,2)+"/"+right(x,2)
else
left(x,2)+"/"+mid(x,3,2)+" - "+
mid(x,5,2)+"/"+right(x,2)

Thanks for all of your help LB!