Uniface Date Functions 101 📅✨
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zuUwn21

zuUwn21 @zuuwn21

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Jun 20, 2024

Uniface Date Functions 101 📅✨

Publish Date: Jul 6
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Working with dates is a daily challenge in software development—whether it’s contract durations, deadlines, or recurring billing cycles. Uniface offers several handy functions to make date handling a breeze. In this post, I’ll introduce you to the essential date functions in Uniface, complete with practical examples and tips! 🚀

Why Are Date Functions So Important? 🤔

  • Process Automation: Automatically extend contracts, calculate deadlines, and trigger reminders—all based on dates.
  • Error Prevention: Manual calculations are prone to mistakes. Built-in functions keep your logic safe and reliable.
  • Internationalization: Handle different date formats and time zones correctly.

The Most Important Date Functions in Uniface 🛠️

Uniface provides several built-in functions for date manipulation. Here are the key players:

Function Description
$date Converts a string to a Uniface date
$datim Returns the current date and time in Uniface format
addmonths Adds or subtracts months to/from a date

1. $date – Convert Strings to Date Values 🗓️

With $date, you can turn a string like "28-feb-90" into a real Uniface date value.

myDate = $date("28-feb-90")
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Tip: Always use $date when working with date strings to avoid formatting issues! 😉

2. $datim – Get the Current Date and Time ⏰

$datim gives you the current date and time in Uniface format.

currentDateTime = $datim
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Perfect for timestamps, logs, or automated calculations.

3. addmonths – Add or Subtract Months ➕➖

addmonths lets you easily add or subtract months from a date. The result is stored in the system variable $result.

addmonths 1, $date("28-feb-90")
; $result = 28-mar-90
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You can also use negative values:

addmonths -1, $date("28-feb-90")
; $result = 28-jan-90
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Common Pitfalls and Best Practices ⚠️✅

  • Watch Date Formats: String interpretation depends on your locale settings. Always use $date!
  • Month End Handling: Without a reference date, month ends may “shift.” Use a reference date to keep patterns consistent.
  • Time Zones & Language Settings: Different settings can lead to unexpected results.

Conclusion 🎉

With Uniface’s date functions, you’re well-equipped to handle even complex date requirements elegantly and reliably. Use $date, $datim, and addmonths to make your applications more robust and flexible!

Curious for more?

In the next post, we’ll dive deeper into the addmonths function, exploring special cases, best practices, and common pitfalls. Stay tuned! 😎

What date challenges have you solved in Uniface? Share your experiences in the comments! 💬

Note: I used an AI assistant to help create and review this post. 🤖

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