YearIn 1.1 Quick Guide DEMO: Two-Digit Year Input or Difference Copyright (c) 1995-1996 by David M. Wincelberg Overview This program demonstrates a routine that properly handles two- digit year inputs and differences for the current and next century. For example, 98 converts to 1998 and 3 becomes 2003. The pair of partial years (90, 95) converts to (1890, 1995) for a difference of 105 years. In addition, this routine is incorporated into an edit box or data-entry field that expands a two-digit year into a four-digit year when you move away from it. Thus, YearIn's year-resolution routine virtually eliminates the need to enter four-digit years and allows databases that use two- digit years to continue to be usable in the 21st century. To use YearIn in Windows 3.1 or 95, start YEARIN.EXE, click on the Input menu, and select either A Year, Year Difference, Examples, or Dynamic Edit Box. For the first option, enter a one-, two-, or three-digit year and click on the OK button or press Enter to close the dialog box. The input and the result will appear in a scrolling list in YearIn's main window. In addition, you may set the active year in this dialog box to some year other than the current one. For example, try entering 98 for active years 1996 and 2000. You will get the same four-digit year. The year-difference option will produce a dialog box that accepts a pair of two-digit years and allows setting the active year and the minimum difference between years. Try entering 90 and 95 to get a difference of 105 years. The inputs and outputs for this calculation will also appear in the main window. The primary benefit of the year-difference logic is that databases that use two-digit years to store birth and current (or death) years do NOT need to be modified. Following is the sample output from this program that is generated by selecting the Examples option. Input(s) Full Year(s) Difference Active Year MinDiff -------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ------- 98 1998 1996 3 2003 1996 98 1998 2000 3 2003 2000 3, 98 1903, 1998 95 1996 25 90, 95 1890, 1995 105 1996 25 3, 98 1903, 1998 95 2000 25 90, 95 1890, 1995 105 2000 25 75 1975 1996 75 2075 2060 Selecting the Dynamic Edit Box option will present an edit box (or data-entry field) that converts a partial year input into a four-digit year when you move away from it by clicking on another entry field, selecting a button, or using a keyboard command. This edit box is designed to relieve data-entry personnel from repeatedly having to type all four digits of an input year. YearIn is a freely-distributable $10 to $5000 shareware program by FileJockey Software, which can be reached by e-mail (71573.1023 @compuserve.com) or postal mail (289 S. Robertson Blvd., Suite 373, Beverly Hills, CA 90211). Registered users will receive the C/C++/Fortran/COBOL source code for this routine and the C++ source code for this edit box. FileJockey Software is also maintaining a list of year-2000 articles in YR2000.TXT in CompuServe's OAFORUM and PCPROG forums. Files in YearIn.ZIP README.TXT This file. WHATSNEW.TXT Describes changes since version 1.0. YEARIN.EXE Windows 3.1 program to demonstrate the year- conversion routine. YEARIN.HLP Full documentation file in Windows 3.1 help format. This file can be run from the Windows 3.1 Program Manager and the Windows 95 Explorer. YEARIN.REG The license-and-registration payment form. FILE_ID.DIZ Description of YearIn to be used on-line or in catalogs. VENDINFO.DIZ Contains vendor-distribution information in a computer-readable format. It also has YearIn installation instructions, much of README.TXT, and a copy of the license agreement. The first part of VENDINFO.DIZ is human readable, while the second part requires a program such as the free VENDVIEW. On CompuServe, GO ZENITH for this viewer as file VNDVUE.ZIP in Library 6. To print this file from DOS, enter: COPY README.TXT > PRN This file is formatted for printing on any printer. (Ignore the characters at the left margin -- they tell the printer to advance to the next page.) To see this file on the screen, use an editor or enter: TYPE README.TXT | MORE All (registered) trademarks and (registered) service marks are properties of their respective companies.