What a great site! I've just recently started studying the Y2K problem and see that there is no date standard. The question I have what happens when one application that is is "Windowing" for Y2K remediation interfaces with a 4 digit application. Anybody care to answer? thanks

-- Anonymous, October 20, 1998

Answers

Hello, William. I'll try to give some generalized answers to your question. A programmer can write a program to stop the importation of non-compatible data fields and you'll just get error messages when the computer cannot process the exchange. In this case, the data is not corrupted, but neither can the exchange take place. Interface programs can also be written to "change" the data so it will be compatible. However, since a good programmer or database manager will likely never let his system interface with any other unless he KNOWS all the differences which have to be accounted for beforehand, and has personally tested any interface program before putting it in operation, you can understand why stopping the exchange is preferable if you are not SURE of what you are trying to interface with. Data can easily become corrupted and unusable - and would be in your example - unless steps are taken to either stop the transaction or by planning for all possible interface differences in advance. There are lots of variables in the complexity of this, of course - what I've mentioned is a basic outline.

Best wishes to you in your search for information!

-- Anonymous, October 21, 1998

Wiliam, That is an excellent question!. I am a project manager for Year 2000 problems and work primarily with the top 5 telecommunications companies around the US. We run into this situation often. In order to deal with it one simply must build whats called a "bridge". At least this is the most common way o dealing with it. Their are always exceptions. A bridge is a small utility that will convert the 2 digits (after the window has run to determine the century) into 4 digits and export the date to the other program that is looking for a 4 digit date. This also will be programmed to work in reverse as well if necessary. That is how these interfaces are dealt with. Now a bridge is USUALLY supposed to be a temporary solution. Even though we window (use logic) a program ultimately we should be planning on making it a 4 digit year. If we do not, the window is going to run out, then we are right back where we started. When this occurs and the windowed application is expanded then the bridge is removed. This is a basic answer and the standard approach, exceptions do exist, but I hope this helped. Steve

-- Anonymous, October 21, 1998