DATE.HELPREXX

DATE function

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| DATE([option])                                                              |
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Returns the current date in the format specified by the option.  Only the first
character of the option is examined, and is treated in upper case.

If the option is specified as 'BASE' the function returns the number of
complete days since 1 June 0001, in the format 'dddddd', without leading
zeroes or blanks.  The number of days is computed assuming the Gregorian
calendar has been continuously in use.

If the option is specified as 'DAYS' the function returns the number of complete
and partial days so far in the current year, in the form 'ddd', without leading
zeroes or blanks.

If the option is specified as 'EUROPEAN' the function returns the date in the
form 'dd/mm/yy'.

If the option is specified as 'MONTH' the function returns the full English name
of the month in mixed case with a leading capital without leading blanks.

If the option is specified as 'NORMAL', or omitted, the function returns the
date in the form 'dd Mmm yyyy' (e.g., '27 Aug 1989') with no leading 0 in the
'dd' portion and the first three letters of the month in English in mixed case
with a leading capital.

If the option is specified as 'ORDERED' the function returns the date in the
form 'yy/mm/dd'.

If the option is specified as 'STANDARD' the function returns the date in the
form 'yyyymmdd'.

If the option is specified as 'USA' the function returns the date in the form
'mm/dd/yy'.

If the option is specified as 'WEEKDAY' the function returns the name of day of
the week in English  in mixed case with a leading capital, without leading
blanks.

If the option is specified as 'CENTURY' the function returns the number of
complete and partial days so far in the current century, in the form 'ddddd',
without leading zeroes or blanks.


If the option is specified as 'JULIAN' the function returns the date in the
form 'yyddd' without leading blanks.

NOTE: DATE('B') // 7 calculates the day number within the current week,
      assuming 0 for Monday.

Examples:

    DATE()    == '27 Aug 1989'
    DATE('B') == 726340
    DATE('D') == 239
    DATE('E') == '27/08/89'
    DATE('M') == 'August'
    DATE('N') == '27 Aug 1989'
    DATE('O') == '89/08/27'
    DATE('s') == '19890827'
    DATE('u') == '08/27/89'
    DATE('w') == 'Saturday'