On user entry forms with a MySQL database, dates must be entered as YYYY-MM-DD,
which for Americans is counter-intitutive. I know about the option to use a
series of very long drop-down lists to select each of the pieces, but I find
that both cumbersome and time consuming. I currently am using instructions to
the user with each date field, but that is clutzy.

Does anybody know of a way to use "mm/dd/yyyy"?

Thanks!
Marty

.oO(MartyMatthews)

>On user entry forms with a MySQL database, dates must be entered as YYYY-MM-DD,
>which for Americans is counter-intitutive. I know about the option to use a
>series of very long drop-down lists to select each of the pieces, but I find
>that both cumbersome and time consuming. I currently am using instructions to
>the user with each date field, but that is clutzy.
>
> Does anybody know of a way to use "mm/dd/yyyy"?

MySQL expects the dates to be stored as YYYY-MM-DD in a DATE or DATETIME
field. Use your script to convert from MM/DD/YYYY if necessary, before
you insert the date into the DB. If you're on PHP, have a look at its
date and time functions, especially strtotime() and strftime().

Micha