Time logic help

[zzz]

I am trying to write a code that will allow user activate item and adjust expiration date if needed.

I have three variables:

Project Date: $proj
Item Date: $item
Today: $now

Ideally a project is created first, then item. Project date can not be less then $item date.

So if an item is expired $item< $now the user can reactivate it, but at this point I need to look at the $proj date because it can never be less then item's date $proj > $item unless $proj == 0;

It should be quite simple but I'm afraid I'm missing something. Seems like my code grows exponentially with all options although I have a feeling it should be "smarter" rather then writing a condition for every possible combination... Need more coffee.

if ($item < $proj < $now && $proj != 0) {
// adjust $item date and activate  $item
} elseif ($item < $now < $proj && $proj != 0) {
// adjust $item and $proj dates and activate  $item
} elseif ($item > $proj && $proj != 0) {
// adjust $item and $proj dates and activate  $item
} else {
//  activate  $item
}

[reddrum]

Will this work?

if ($item < $proj && $proj < $now && $proj != 0) {
// adjust $item date and activate  $item
} elseif ($item < $now && $now < $proj && $proj != 0) {
// adjust $item and $proj dates and activate  $item
} elseif ($item > $proj && $proj != 0) {
// adjust $item and $proj dates and activate  $item
} else {
//  activate  $item
}

[zzz]

I'm feeling I still have a faulty logic.

Basically I need to act from the point of NOW.
- Assuming that item is inactive in all examples and need to be re-activated.
- Items expiration item can not surpass project's expiration.

If my time line looks like this:

now------------------item-------------project

activate Item only.

If I have the following time line:

item-----------------now--------------project

• activate item then
• adjusting its expiration any time before project's expiration and on or after NOW.

With this time line:

item---------------project----------------now

Activate item and add some time after NOW to both Item and Project.

[reddrum]

if ($item > $now && $item < $proj ) {

}
elseif ($item < $now && $now < $proj ) {

} elseif ($item < proj && $proj < $now){

}
else {
// activate $item
}