Date Formatting problem..

wilburburns

First off, My server is configured with php4 (4.4.7)

I am trying to use the following code to get a users birthdate in a more readable format. ex: February 26

$birthdate = date("F d", strtotime($user->cb_birthdate));

$user->cb_birthdate is stored in a database as a Date Field
ie: 1977-02-26

The Above code works great for anyone Born after 1970, however, I have several members born BEFORE 1970, which causes the Date() function to Fail.

I Think I must be in brainlock mode, because I've been searching and can't seem to find the solution... ARRGGHHHH

Cliff

Horizon88

I'd make a poor XKCD joke about "Epoch Fail", but I wouldn't want to deprive Weedpacket of the pleasure.

I just tried your code and it works fine for me -returns February 26, provided I use the strtotime() specification. If I just do date('F d', '1977-02-26') it gives me December 31. I'm using php5, though, although it shouldn't have changed. The only other suggestion I could make as a workaround would be to combine substr() or explode() and mktime(), something like:

$parts = explode('-', '1977-02-26');
print_r($parts);
echo date('F d', mktime(0,0,0, $parts[1], $parts[2], $parts[0]));

which returns:

Array
(
    [0] => 1977
    [1] => 02
    [2] => 26
)
February 26

NogDog

If using MySQL, you might want to have the query return the value as a UNIX timestamp, then use that in your PHP script:

SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(`birthdate`) AS `birth_timestamp` FROM . . .

wilburburns

Horizon88 wrote:
I'd make a poor XKCD joke about "Epoch Fail", but I wouldn't want to deprive Weedpacket of the pleasure.

I just tried your code and it works fine for me -returns February 26, provided I use the strtotime() specification. If I just do date('F d', '1977-02-26') it gives me December 31. I'm using php5, though, although it shouldn't have changed. The only other suggestion I could make as a workaround would be to combine substr() or explode() and mktime(), something like:
$parts = explode('-', '1977-02-26');
print_r($parts);
echo date('F d', mktime(0,0,0, $parts[1], $parts[2], $parts[0]));
which returns:
Array
(
    [0] => 1977
    [1] => 02
    [2] => 26
)
February 26

Horizon,

Yes, my code works great for Dates after 1970, if the date is before 1970, then there is a problem..

IE: 1944-02-26 , Will not work for php4. :glare:

I haven't tested your code yet, but I beleive this will have the same problem as my code. You are still using date(), for the final formatting. I need some type of replacement for the date() function. :queasy:

However, It's possible that I could make a work around using your code above. I really don't "need" the Year, but it is nice to have.

Cliff

wilburburns

NogDog wrote:
If using MySQL, you might want to have the query return the value as a UNIX timestamp, then use that in your PHP script:
SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(`birthdate`) AS `birth_timestamp` FROM . . .

Yes, the backend Database is MySQL, BUT... I am writing a plugin to an existing set of code. I would prefer not to have to rewrite any of their code, therefore I am sticking to the API they have provided, which limits me to the format they provide for the values.

Cliff

NogDog

Any possibility of upgrading your PHP version? From the [man]strototime/man page:

Note: The valid range of a timestamp is typically from Fri, 13 Dec 1901 20:45:54 GMT to Tue, 19 Jan 2038 03:14:07 GMT. (These are the dates that correspond to the minimum and maximum values for a 32-bit signed integer.) Additionally, not all platforms support negative timestamps, therefore your date range may be limited to no earlier than the Unix epoch. This means that e.g. dates prior to Jan 1, 1970 will not work on Windows, some Linux distributions, and a few other operating systems. PHP 5.1.0 and newer versions overcome this limitation though [my highlighting].

Horizon88

wilburburns wrote:
Horizon,

Yes, my code works great for Dates after 1970, if the date is before 1970, then there is a problem..

IE: 1944-02-26 , Will not work for php4. :glare:

I haven't tested your code yet, but I beleive this will have the same problem as my code. You are still using date(), for the final formatting. I need some type of replacement for the date() function. :queasy:

However, It's possible that I could make a work around using your code above. I really don't "need" the Year, but it is nice to have.

Cliff

It's worth a shot, but you really should upgrade to PHP5 if possible.

wilburburns

NogDog wrote:
Any possibility of upgrading your PHP version? From the [man]strototime/man page:

php docs wrote:
Note: The valid range of a timestamp is typically from Fri, 13 Dec 1901 20:45:54 GMT to Tue, 19 Jan 2038 03:14:07 GMT. (These are the dates that correspond to the minimum and maximum values for a 32-bit signed integer.) Additionally, not all platforms support negative timestamps, therefore your date range may be limited to no earlier than the Unix epoch. This means that e.g. dates prior to Jan 1, 1970 will not work on Windows, some Linux distributions, and a few other operating systems. PHP 5.1.0 and newer versions overcome this limitation though [my highlighting].

Thank You NogDog....
I read the above mentioned note many times yesterday, but what I highlighted in BLUE above just did not sink in until I read it this morning.

My testing environment is on a Windows box, running a JSAS (Joomla Stand Alone Server) which is your basic pre-packaged Apache/MySQL system. BUT, my production environment is a Full Linux Server.

Bottom Line is I just tested my original code on the production server and it works fine for all possible date ranges. Therefore my code is fine, it's my testing environment that has a problem... D'oh :queasy:

Thanks for all the help,
Cliff