Dates in the Data Division (one compiler's extension)

As a follow-on to another thread, for those who might (or might NOT) like
extending the data division to support "date fields" and formats, you might 
want
to look at IBM's "DATE FORMAT" clause (from their "Millennium Language
Extensions").

See (for example),
http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-.../IGY3LR20/5.3.6

and
[url]http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/igy3pg20/7.2.2.3.1[/url
]

***

Having pointed this out, it my impression (totally from UNSUBSTANTIATED repo
rts)
that this is a VERY little used IBM feature/extension - and turned out to be
 a
"non-solution" to the Y2K problem (much less ongoing date formatting).

To see the "medium-commonly used" feature that IBM provides (in a programmin
g
language independent fashion) for date formatting (and information), see the
 LE
callable services information at:

http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-...ceea3140/3.5.22

and

http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-...KS/ceea3140/B.0

and

[url]http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/ceea2140/3.9.6.5.2[/url
]


--
Bill Klein
wmklein <at> ix.netcom.com

William M. Klein wrote:

> As a follow-on to another thread, for those who might (or might NOT) like
> extending the data division to support "date fields" and formats, you migh
t want
> to look at IBM's "DATE FORMAT" clause (from their "Millennium Language
> Extensions").
>
> See (for example),
>   [url]http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/IGY3LR20/5.3.6[/url
]
>
> and
>  [url]http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/igy3pg20/7.2.2.3.1[/
url]
>
>    ***
>
> Having pointed this out, it my impression (totally from UNSUBSTANTIATED re
ports)
> that this is a VERY little used IBM feature/extension - and turned out to 
be a
> "non-solution" to the Y2K problem (much less ongoing date formatting).
>
I would like to have used the Millennium Language Extensions.  They
would have made the upgrade much easier at the shop where I was.
However, we had to have the critical systems Y2K ready before the
extensions were available.  It's like the screen section for the IBM
mainframe.  Having it in 1985 or before and supported for CICS and
TSO/ISPF would have been a great productivity enhancement.  In 2004, it
would probably see little use even if IBM implemented it.