Using date callable services

Both the COBOL date intrinsic functions and the Language Environment® date callable services are based on the Gregorian calendar. However, the starting dates can differ depending on the setting of the INTDATE compiler option.

About this task

When INTDATE(LILIAN) is in effect, COBOL uses October 15, 1582 as day 1. Language Environment always uses October 15, 1582 as day 1. If you use INTDATE(LILIAN), you get equivalent results from COBOL intrinsic functions and Language Environment date callable services. The following table compares the results when INTDATE(LILIAN) is in effect.

Table 1. INTDATE(LILIAN) and compatibility of date intrinsic functions and callable services
COBOL intrinsic function Language Environment callable service Results
DATE-OF-INTEGER CEEDATE with picture string YYYYMMDD Compatible
DAY-OF-INTEGER CEEDATE with picture string YYYYDDD Compatible
INTEGER-OF-DATE CEEDAYS Compatible
INTEGER-OF-DATE CEECBLDY Incompatible

When the default setting of INTDATE(ANSI) is in effect, COBOL uses January 1, 1601 as day 1. The following table compares the results when INTDATE(ANSI) is in effect.

Table 2. INTDATE(ANSI) and compatibility of date intrinsic functions and callable services
COBOL intrinsic function Language Environment callable service Results
INTEGER-OF-DATE CEECBLDY Compatible
DATE-OF-INTEGER CEEDATE with picture string YYYYMMDD Incompatible
DAY-OF-INTEGER CEEDATE with picture string YYYYDDD Incompatible
INTEGER-OF-DATE CEEDAYS Incompatible

Related tasks  
Using Language Environment callable services

Related references  
INTDATE