Managing Dates

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WP51 & Win95

• Inserting a date code into a WP51 document
• Inserting a date (text) into a WP51 document
• Using date codes in merges
• Formatting dates for use with the WP51 date feature
• Changing your computer's date from within WP51
• Cool date tricks

General

Note: Throughout this page and the date macro page, I'll be referring to "date," but keep in mind that in WP51 date is inclusive of time. All information presented about dates is applicable to time.

WordPerfect offers four ways to place a date in your document, if you count just typing in a date the old-fashioned way:

1. Code - A date code that is updated each time the document is opened and reflects the current date to which your computer is set
2. Text - Uses the current date setting to place the date in your document as text. This, because it's just text, will not be updated each time the document is opened
3. Merge Code - Another date code, but this one is specific to merges and cannot be used in regular documents
4. Manual - You just type in the date.

Each method has advantages, disadvantages, and specific uses, and each method can be used, after a fashion, with macros.

Inserting a date code into a WP51 document

To insert a date code into your document, press [Shift][F5] [C]ode. In Reveal Codes, this date code appears as [Date:x x, x], where x is a number corresponding to the specific date format features you have chosen. In the edit screen, you will just see the date.

The date code uses the computer's date settings to determine what date is displayed and printed in your document. The date will be updated each time the document is opened and/or printed.

Inserting a date (text) into a WP51 document

To insert the current date as plain text, press [Shift][F5] [T]ext. In Reveal Codes and in the edit screen, this appears simply as a plain text date.

This features also uses the computer's date settings to determine what date is placed in your document; however, because the date is plain text, it will not update.

Using date codes in merges

Date codes can be used in either primary or secondary merge files. WP51 supports the older ^D character used by earlier WP versions for date insertion in merges.

For merges, WP51 offers a different date code: [Shift][F9] [M]ore [D]ate [ENTER]. In Reveal Codes, this appears as [Mrg:DATE]; in the edit screen, this appears as {Date}.

A quick glance at the Date section in the WP51 manual may lead you to believe that you must use the Merge Date Code in merge documents; however, the regular date code works equally well in both primary and secondary merge files. If you already have a template or data document set up with regular date codes, there is no need to convert the date codes to merge date codes before executing a merge.

It's also worth noting that the Merge Date Code cannot be used directly in a macro, although, as with all macros and merges, this is with the proviso that macros and merges can interact.

Formatting dates for use with the WP51 date feature

WP51 date features can be customized so that the date and/or time displays in a selected format. Personally, I think the menu used to select the format is a bit unfriendly. On the date macro page is a macro you can use to select date settings from a list of common date formats.

The formatting menu is accessed by pressing [Shift][F5] [F]ormat. Below are the options presented in that menu:

Character	Meaning
1	Day of the Month
2	Month (number)
3	Month (word)
4	Year (all four digits)
5	Year (last two digits)
6	Day of the Week (word)
7	Hour (24-hour clock)
8	Hour (12-hour clock)
9	Minute
0	am / pm
%	Used before a number less than ten, will add leading zeroes. Used before a month or day name, will abbreviate it.
$	Used before a number less than ten, will add a space in front of it.

Examples:

3 1, 4	=	December 25, 1984
%6 %3 1, 4	=	Tue Dec 25, 1984
%2/%1/5 (6)	=	01/01/85 (Tuesday)
$2/$1/5 ($6)	=	1/ 1/85 (Tue)
8:90	=	10:55am

Changing your computer's date from within WP51

Because the date features rely upon your computer's date settings, you'll probably want to be sure that the computer's date is correct. Most users are familiar with the different methods of setting dates in Windows and DOS, but most WP51 users love the program because it doesn't require them to "mouse around" and keeps their fingers on the keyboard. For those folks, it may be more desirable to change the date from within WP51.

This function is not available to you directly from WP51 (in other words, it's not offered as a menu option); however, you can combine one DOS function and one WP51 feature to accomplish the task.

First, you probably know that you can change the date from a DOS command line using the DATE command. The nice thing about DOS is that most commands will accept arguments, switches, or parameters. So, you could just enter DATE from a command line and access the DOS date menu, enter the new date, and press [ENTER]:

What you enter: C:\>date
DOS response: Current date is Mon 04-30-2001
                             Enter new date (mm-dd-yy):
What you enter: 04/29/2001
DOS response: C:\>

Or, you can pass the date to DOS at the same time you enter the date command:

What you enter: C:\>date 04/30/2001
DOS response: C:\>

To keep your fingers on the keyboard, combine this DOS function with the WP51 DOS command function: [CTRL][F1] [C]ommand

WP51 will present you with a status line menu that asks for your DOS command where you will enter "date 04/30/2001," for example. You'll press [ENTER] once to send the command and once to continue, but you'll never once have to touch the mouse. A macro to make this even easier (just a couple keystrokes) is included on the date macro page.

Cool date tricks

Okay, so what can you do with dates, besides just putting them at the top of letters? Plenty! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Macros that reset the date format and use the {MID} function can be used to automatically save files with a name of your choosing (could be from an existing variable - patient's last name, for example) and a date code extension. See the date macro page for an example.
• If you frequently take phone messages, use a macro to type the message and automatically date and time it. See the date macro page for an example.
• Use WP51 as a time clock for employees or for you.
• Use WP51 to create time slips for attorneys and paralegals.