add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

[nigeldude]

Can anyone tell me how to get the features of the function add_bus_days but without excluding holidays or most importantly, weekends.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

The Help documentation covers date arithmetic. Shows you how to add and subtract dates, and how to determine a new date by adding or subtracting a number from an existing date. Open Help. choose index tab. Specify Date. Choose Functions.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

Can anyone tell me how to get the features of the function add_bus_days but without excluding holidays or most importantly, weekends.

And you might tell us what features you consider add_bus_days() to have if it ignores holidays and weekends.

[nigeldude]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

I want to add a number of days to a date, subtract ta number of days from a date, or count the number of days between two dates. All this seems quite possible with the add_bus_days function, but it doesnot count weekends.

I want to count every single day, not just business days. How do I do that.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

These are addressed, with examples, in the Arithmetic group in the Date and Time Functions topic of the help file, previously referenced.

[nigeldude]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

Since you say it, I�m sure these topics are in the help, I think the problem with the help was properly covered by "SnapperX1" in the topic labeled "Alpha5 "for non-programmers". That's BS!"

Now don�t get me wrong, I love the program, I'm finally on the way with a program I conceived many years ago and couldn�t get anywhere with in other programs. The point I agree with him on is that the help file was "Poorly written and poorly laid". Using the help is like going through a complex maze, sometimes you find your way but most times you don�t. There are times when I can�t even find topics that I've seen in there before, so imaging finding topics that I've never come across before. Worst I imagine what it must be like for the more computer illiterate users, since I�m quit versed.

Now I don�t want to come off like I'm knocking up Alpha Five, because I do love it, but for non-programmers the help is too complex in its structure and sometimes in its terminology.

I enjoy using "AutoPlay Media Studio 6.0" from http://www.indigorose.com/ams/index.php to create CD menus and certain windows app in a simple and well laid out action scripting interface. My only problem with it is, there database system in very new and requires detail scripting on all aspects that was my reason for turning to Alpha Five, by comparison setting up a database in Alpha Five is ABC, plus I hate coding. Alpha Five context sensitive help gives me a dialogue that says

Alias = Forms
Object type = Form
Object Name = Profile.
What is that?

AutoPlay Media Studio have context sensitive help on everything, every object, every action. Their help goes straight to the specific topic you need where Everything is explained in great details and there are three examples for every action.

That�s the kind of help I expect from a software for inexperienced users, and more from a software that�s been out from the early 80s.

My bottom line is the help could be a whole lot clearer.

[davej]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

Short answer to your original question is: why don't you create a UDF to get the results you want?

In addition to what Tom is trying to tell you, take a look at add_bus_days() in the Help file. It tells you how to set up the Holiday_Table or a_holidays.dbf to possibly achieve what you want, although add_bus_days() is specifically design to not count weekends or holidays.

Dave

[Stan Mathews]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

Possibly you got sidetracked because you were looking for a complex solution to a simple problem.

Add # days to a date

date2 = {04/15/2004}
 date2 + 5
yields 
{04/20/2004}

Subtract # of days from a date, nearly as difficult.

date2 = {04/15/2004}
 date2 - 5
yields 
{04/10/2004}

Number of days between two dates

date1 = {12/15/2005}
date2 = {04/15/2004}

date1-date2
yields 609.000000

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

Nigel, I'm having trouble understanding the 'tude, dude.

In this case I gave you a specific map to the answers you were asking for, and you apparently refused to even open the help file.

Open Help. choose index tab. Specify Date. Choose Functions.

It's true the help file could be improved. Suggestions I've made to Alpha in the past have been welcomed and in many cases adopted. If you have specific ideas for improvement I encourage you to write Alpha directly and pass them on. If you need more examples, or if you have examples that might benefit others, let them know.

It's true also that the help file is huge. I and others have learned that using it is the best way to get better at using it.

You may think differently, but I think it's largely a waste of bandwidth to repeat examples here that are already in the Helps. I encourage you to holler if you can't find something in the Help file, or if you don't understand what you find. Will personally be glad to assist if I can. But don't expect me to look up the answer to your question and regurgitate the examples already provided in the Help documentation for your convenience. I believe that does you a disservice by denying you the opportunity to spend a bit of time learning for yourself.

-- tom

[davej]

Re: add_bus_days ( I DONT WANT TO SKIP WEEKENDS

Tom,

If you ever give classes in being tactful, sign me up.;)

Dave