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Report Desk: Entering Date Parameters

← Elliott Version 8.6
Release Date: 4/28/23
Elliott Version: 8.6

Entering Dates
Report Desk input parameters that represent dates can be entered in two ways:
  • By using the drop-down calendar --dates can be selected by browsing through the calendar and selecting one.
  • By entering the date manually in a free-format way -- dates can be entered by typing the numbers and delimeters for dates.

Using the Drop-Down Calendar

A date field will have a button with a calendar icon on it, like the one highlighted below:


Press the calendar button to use the drop-down calendar:

The calendar will start with the date in the entry field if there is one,  If there is no valid date, it will default to the current date.  Using the mouse or the keyboard, you can navigate to the desired date and click on it to move it back to the input field and remove the calendar.

The light-blue area at the top of the calendar has controls to help navigate through the adjacent months and quarters:
  • Clicking on the single > on the right will move you to the next month.  
  • Clicking on the double >> on the right will move you to the month 3 months ahead of the current month.  
  • Likewise, the single < and double << on the left move you to the previous month or 3 months, respectively.
You may also use the following keys to navigate:
  • Right-arrow moves to the next day.
  • Ctrl+right-arrow moves to the same day in the next month.
  • Left-arrow moves to the previous day.
  • Ctrl+left-arrow moves to the same day in the previous month.

Free-Form Date Entry


U.S. Date Format
It is also possible to directly enter the date you want in the input field.  The following formats are acceptable:
  • A 6-digit date in the form of MMDDYY.  When leaving the field, it will be reformatted to MM/DD/YYYY.
Note that a 2-digit year 50 or less will be converted to a date in the 2000s ; otherwise to a date in the 1900s.
  • An 8-digit date in the form of MMDDYYYY.  When leaving the field, it will be reformatted to MM/DD/YYYY.
Note that if only numbers are entered, exactly 6 or 8 digits are required. 
  • A date entered as M/D/Y, where the month and day can be 1 or 2 digits and the year can be 1 to 4 digits.
  • A date entered as M.D.Y,  where the month and day can be 1 or 2 digits and the year can be 1 to 4 digits.
  • A date entered as M D Y, where the month and day can be 1 or 2 digits and the year can be 1 to 4 digits.
A few examples will make this more clear:
  • 010120 would be converted to 01/01/2020.
  • 01012020 would likewise be converted to 01/01/2020.
  • 1120 would cause an error -- it would not convert to 01/01/2020.
  • 112020 would convert to 11/20/2020 -- it would not convert to 1/12/2020.
  • 1/1/20 would convert to 01/01/2020.
  • 1.1.20 would convert to 01/01/2020.
  • 1 1 20 would convert to 01/01/2020.
During keyboard entry, as is standard in Windows programs, each key typed will delete all highlighted characters, if any, and insert its character before the caret.  When the field is exited, whatever remains will be edited and reformatted.  If any delimiter (forward slash, period, space) is found, there must be two and only two of these delimiters.  Any text that cannot be translated into a valid date will cause an error.

International Date Format
If the user wishes to enter dates in international date format (YYYY/MM/DD or YYYY.MM.DD, etc.), he or she may simply enter a 4-digit year, followed by / (or other delimiter), then a month, then / (or other delimeter), then a day.  The software will recognize this as an international date because of the 4-digit year followed by a /.  The software will convert it to MM/DD/YYYY format and validate it.

In this way we support entering a date in international format, but we do not display dates in international format.

JEG
Programs: EL860RD

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