User Guide

284 Chapter 12: Methods

date() (System)

Usage

-- Lingo syntax

_system.date({yyyymmdd})

// JavaScript syntax

_system.date({yyyymmdd});

Description

System method; returns the current date in the system clock.

The format Director uses for the date varies, depending on how the date is formatted on the

computer.

• In Windows, you can customize the date display by using the International control panel.

(Windows stores the current short date format in the System.ini file. Use this value to

determine what the parts of the short date indicate.)

• On the Macintosh, you can customize the date display by using the Date and Time

control panel.

Parameters

yyyymmdd

Optional. A number that specifies the four-digit year (yyyy), two-digit month (mm),

and two-digit day (

dd) of the returned date.

Example

This statement tests whether the current date is January 1 by checking whether the first four

characters of the date are 1/1. If it is January 1, the alert “Happy New Year!” appears:

-- Lingo syntax

if (_system.date().char[1..4] = "1/1/") then

_player.alert("Happy New Year!")

end if

// JavaScript syntax

if (_system.date().toString().substr(0, 4) == "1/1/") {

_player.alert("Happy New Year!");

}