DATE Function

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# DATE Function

The DATE function enables the application to obtain one of the following:

- Gregorian date: mmddyy

- Julian date: yyddd

The current date can optionally be obtained using the standard COBOL reserved word CURRENT-DATE.

DATE indicates that the date is to be returned in Gregorian format.

DATEJ indicates that the date is to be returned in Julian format.

> Format

>   The format for using the DATE function is:

>       DATE[J] (retcode, area)

>   retcode | Required. A fullword where Com-plete places the return code upon completion of the operation.
>   area | Required. A four-byte area in the working storage area of the application program where the date will be placed.

>   The date can be returned in either Gregorian or Julian format. Regardless of the format chosen, the date is returned in a four-byte area identified by the area argument. The format of the data returned in the four-byte field is:

>   Gregorian Format: X'cmmddyyF'

>   The first character contains either a leading half-byte of zeros, or the century indicator "c". The characters are:

>   c = century indicator (c=0=1900; c=1=2000; etc.)
>   mm = month indicator (01 to 12)
>   dd = date indicator (01 to 31)
>   yy = year indicator (00 to 99)

>   Note that the Gregorian format illustrated above differs from the results returned by the MCALL DATE function for Assembler language programming.

>   Julian Format: X'0cyydddF'

>   The last character contains the hexadecimal character F to ensure a valid numerical sign. The remaining characters are:

>   c = century indicator (c=0=1900; c=1=2000; etc.)
>   yy = year indicator (00 to 99)
>   ddd = day indicator (001 to 366)

> Return Codes

>   A return code of 0 is issued upon normal completion of the DATE function.

> Abends

>   An abnormal termination may occur during execution of the DATE function. A possible cause is that an invalid area argument was specified.