A string of alphabetic characters which alter how %DT responds. Briefly stated, the acceptable characters are:

For an explanation of each character, see "%DT Input Variables in Detail."

If %DT does not contain an A, then the variable X must be defined as equal to the value to be processed. See Date Fields in the "Editing Specific Field Types" chapter of the "VA FileMan Getting Started Manual" for acceptable values for X and for the interpretation of those values.

(Optional) A prompt which will be displayed prior to the reading of the input. Without this variable, the prompt "DATE:" will be issued.

The default answer to the "DATE:" prompt. It is your responsibility to ensure that %DT("B") contains a valid date/time. Allowable date input formats are explained in the "Editing Specific Field Types" chapter of the "VA FileMan Getting Started Manual."

(Optional) Prevents the input date value from being accepted if it is chronologically before or after a particular date. Set %DT(0) equal to a VA FileMan-format date (e.g., %DT(0)=2690720) to allow input only of dates greater than or equal to that date. Set it negative (e.g., %DT(0)=-2831109.15) to allow only dates less than or equal to that date/time. Set it to NOW to allow dates from the current (input) time forward. Set it to -NOW to allow dates up to the current time.

NOTE: Be sure to kill this variable after returning from %DT.

%DT always returns the variable Y, which can be one of two values:

X is always returned. It contains either what was passed to %DT (in the case where %DT did not contain an A) or what the user entered.

This is only defined if %DT has timed-out waiting for input from the user.

%DT Asks for input from the terminal. It continues to ask until it receives correct input, a null, or an up-arrow. If %DT does not contain the character A, the input to %DT is assumed to be in the variable X.

The External format of the input will be echoed back to the user after it has been entered. If the input was erroneous, two question marks and a "beep" will be issued.

If a year is not entered (example 1), or if a two-digit year is entered (example 2), a date in the Future is assumed.

EXCEPTION: If a two-digit year is entered and those two digits equal the current year, the current year is assumed even if the date is in the past (example 3).

See "Y2K Changes" below for the behavior of %DT when neither the F nor P flag is used.

Only Month and year input is allowed. Input with a specific day or time is rejected (example 1). If only a month and two digits are entered, the two digits are interpreted as a year instead of a day (example 2).

If the M flag is used with theX flag, a month must be specified; otherwise, the input can be just a year (example 3).

*Assuming the current year is 2000 and the F and P flags aren't used.

Ordinarily, a user can enter a date in a purely Numeric form, i.e., MMDDYY. However, if %DT contains an N, then this type of input is not allowed.

If a year is not entered (example 1), or if a two-digit year is entered (example 2), a date in the Past is assumed.

EXCEPTION: If a two-digit year is entered and those two digits equal the current year, the current year is assumed even if the date is in the future (example 3).

See "Y2K Changes" below for the behavior of %DT when neither the F nor P flag is used.

Time is Required. It must be input.

Seconds are to be returned.

Time is allowed in the input, but it is not necessary. See Date Fields in the "Editing Specific Field Types" chapter of the "VA FileMan Getting Started Manual" for details of how user-input times are interpreted.

EXact input is required. If X is used without M, date input must include a day and month. Without X, the input can be just month-year or only a year.

If X is used with M, date input must include a month. If M is used without X, then the input can be just a year.