In all the Y2K discussions, I have read nothing about all the databases that are out there. Remember, computers use only 2 digits for the year. Likewise, they only store 2 digits in the databases they generate. All of these will have to be translated to reflect 4 digit years. Add one more hiccup to the Y2K problem.

-- Tom Flook (tflook@compuserve.com), June 24, 1998

Answers

Oracle, Informix and Micro$oft SQL Server all have Y2K compliant dates *if* the DATE data-type was used for the columns storing date information. The application programs that "sit on top of" the database is another story though. Newer GUI interfaces should be OK, but old character-based systems are probably not.

-- Anon (anon@anon.com), June 25, 1998.

Actually, there are plenty of character based applications out there in the world that are Y2K compliant. Don't confuse age with quality. There are lots of bad applications that are new and lots of good applications that are old.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), June 25, 1998.

Tom

<< Remember, computers use only 2 digits for the year. Likewise, they only store 2 digits in the databases they generate. >>

Not necessarily. You can make it whatever size you want -- they are usually 2 or 4. Database systems that came later used YYYY, because people saw what was coming. The older ones, using DB2, ADABAS, IDMS, IMS, whatever, (meaning most of them) have lots and lots of YYMMDD or YYMM or YY to deal with.

On my project, we're using fixed windows. The data in ADABAS files will not be changed, but we have lots and lots of programming to do as a result. We may get the work done on time, but I doubt it.

Steve

-- Steve Francis (sfrancis@sympatico.ca), June 26, 1998.

They have to be converted from YYMMDD to YYYYMMDD. Sound easy, ya right. It is very time consuming and demanding work. Then your appts must be converted to logically process the new data. The data drives the engine.

There are all sort of tricks, ie. windowing and bridges. The problem with these are - YOU HAVE NOT REALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, STUPID.

thx,

j

-- jh (yada@yada.com), June 30, 1998.