KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q192768: FIX: Ambiguous Date/Datetime Constant Error

Article: Q192768
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): 6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbvfp600bug kbXBase kbDSupport
Last Modified: 07-APR-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 6.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Using an ambiguous date/datetime string in Visual FoxPro 6.0 causes an ambiguous
date/datetime constant error message to occur. For example:

  Use the following format:
  {^yyyy-mm-dd[hh[:mm[:ss]][a|p]]}

CAUSE
=====

The error message is missing a reference to an optional comma between the Date
and Time string.

RESOLUTION
==========

To include the Hour and retain Minutes and Seconds the default in your datetime
string, use one of the following formats:

     ?{^1998-12-12, 10} && This returns 12-12-98 10:00:00 AM

-or-

     ?{^1998-12-12 10:} && This returns 12-12-98 10:00:00 AM

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article.

This bug was corrected in Visual FoxPro 6.0 Service Pack 3. For additional
information about Visual Studio service packs, click the article numbers below
to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q194022 INFO: Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs, What, Where, Why

  Q194295 HOWTO: Tell That a Visual Studio Service Pack Is Installed

You can download the latest Visual Studio service pack from the following
Microsoft Web site:

  Visual Studio Product Updates
  (http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/updates.asp)

MORE INFORMATION
================

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

Type the following date/time string in the Command window:

        ?{^1998-12-12 10} && To display date and 10:00:00 AM

NOTE: According to the preceding date/datetime format, the format used is valid.
However, Visual FoxPro still produces an error with the Ambiguous Date/Datetime
error message dialog box.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbvfp600bug kbXBase kbDSupport 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP600
Version           : :6.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.