dates validation

gderoover

Hello,

I want to make sure when filling a form a user will not make the mistake to enter a 'end_date' before 'start_date', so the form will not validate if that's the case and the user will get a message to correct the error. I already have a java calendar to make sure they enter the date in the proper format but now they were able to mess up with a new mistake.

Any ideas?

Thanks giro

TheDefender

Did you write the JS calendar function? How familiar are you with JS? You could write a bit more JS into it so that the end JS calendar dates won't select anything prior to the start date.

Or you could write a JS function that would warn the user and force a correction when the form is submitted if the end date is before the start date.

Your last option is to write a PHP funtion on the called page that validates it...

Which would you prefer? If one of the first two options, and you need help, you may be better off posting this question in a JS forum. If the third option, let us know. I could write something up for you. Also, I'm sure someone around here has probably already written that type of function...

gderoover

I am much more comfortable with the php option so i can undeerstand the process as well, the js was something i got and adapt but not familiar to it.

Thanks for your help

Giro

TheDefender

OK, what format are you passing the date in? Is it YYYY-MM-DD or MM/DD/YYYY or something else?

Let me know, and I will write something up. (It may not be tonight, because it's late here, and I am going to bed soon, but I will work something up tomorrow)

gderoover

Format for the date is yyyy-mm-dd

Thanks again

giro

nemonoman

function whichisless($value1, $value2){
if($value1<$value2){return $value1;}
else{return $value2;}
}

function whichismore($value1, $value2){
if($value1<$value2){return $value2;}
else{return $value1;}
}

$query="SELECT * FROM table WHERE somedate BETWEEN ".whichisless($date1,$date2)." AND ".whichismore($date1,$date2);

gderoover

I am sorry for my lack of knowledge but with that type of query i am navigating blindfolded.

I think i understand the first part were $value1 will be my end_date and $value2 my start_date, but why the query?

Thanks for the explanation

giro

Sxooter

Has MySQL got check constraints yet? If so, you could use one of those and check for an insert error:

db=# create table test (date1 date, date2 date, constraint "dates out of order" check (date1<date2));
CREATE TABLE
db=# insert into test values ('2001-01-01','2001-01-02');
INSERT 645328 1
db=# insert into test values ('2001-01-03','2001-01-02');
ERROR:  new row for relation "test" violates check constraint "dates out of order"
db=# select * from test;
   date1    |   date2
------------+------------
 2001-01-01 | 2001-01-02
(1 row)

The advantage here is that no matter how many mistakes you make in your code or how the user tries to hack around your js checking, you can't get the wrong data in the database because the database won't let you.

Note that you could create a simple query too to check it, before storing it:

db=# select cast('2001-01-03' as date) < cast('2001-01-02' as date);
 ?column?
----------
 f
(1 row)

db=# select cast('2001-01-01' as date) < cast('2001-01-02' as date);
 ?column?
----------
 t
(1 row)

gderoover

Man you lost me here, i was looking for something more simple 🙂 than that, i have seen it out there can't remember where. Just comparing the 2 values and not allowing the creation or the modification of a contact when end_date < start_date. Any other ideas?

thanks Giro

gderoover

I read it again and still don't get it, again do someone know a easier way to do this?

giro

Sxooter

Since they are in YYYY-mm-dd format, you can just do:

if ($date1 > $date2) {
  print "That's bad, mmkay?";
} else {
  print "That's good, mmkay?";
}