TODAY: Returning the Current Date

How to:

Available Languages: reporting

The TODAY function retrieves the current date from the operating system in the format MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY. It always returns a date that is current. Therefore, if you are running an application late at night, use TODAY. You can remove the default embedded slashes with the EDIT function.

You can also retrieve the date in the same format (separated by slashes) using the Dialogue Manager system variable &DATE. You can retrieve the date without the slashes using the system variables &YMD, &MDY, and &DMY. The system variable &DATEfmt retrieves the date in a specified format.

Syntax: How to Retrieve the Current Date 

TODAY(output)

where:

output

Alphanumeric, at least A8

Is the name of the field that contains the result, or the format of the output value enclosed in single quotation marks.

The following apply:

  • If the format is A8 or A9, TODAY returns the 2-digit year.
  • If the format is A10 or greater, TODAY returns the 4-digit year.

Example: Retrieving the Current Date

TODAY retrieves the current date and stores it in the DATE field. The request then displays the date in the page heading. 

DEFINE FILE EMPLOYEE
DATE/A10 WITH EMP_ID = TODAY(DATE);
END
TABLE FILE EMPLOYEE
SUM CURR_SAL BY DEPARTMENT
HEADING
"PAGE <TABPAGENO  "
"SALARY REPORT RUN ON <DATE  "
END

The output is:

SALARY REPORT RUN ON 12/13/2006
DEPARTMENT       CURR_SAL
----------     --------
MIS           $108,002.00
PRODUCTION    $114,282.00