Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 22:14:12 -0400 From: Robert Jasiek Subject: [Fwd: Re: tight spec for game-info properties] fotland@ix.netcom.com wrote: > > Sounds like a resonable file format, but do you have a proposal > how to show this in the user interface? Assume that you are not > allowed to educate the user on ISO format or SGF format :) Mapping > the SGF format to the user interface, and You have already recognized most necessieties here: > [radio buttons] > For date I will do something similar, giving a set of MM/DD/YYYY > data entry fields, and a text box for entering more information. With more information you mean time of day or "a sunny drake celebration three-day-period" or birthday etc.? :( (This could be done in ;C[] , but maybe you mean st different.) I think a user is pleased with one date format only shown at a proper game info place. What is needed is an option for a setup setting the kind of format. This is like in operating systems like Windows: Once and for all you choose a date format in a system-settings dialog. (Just look there to see more formats than you want to know about...) Setting is possible by forms or radio buttons or the like. How to show the user? Assume a program uses a window with various fields each containing an editable game info. Assume your program is user-friendly and thus your user has selected ShortBritish format. Then e.g. ;DT[1996-11-20][1996-12-31:1997-01-03][1997-01-05] is shown in the field as ----------- 20th Nov 96 31st Dec 96 1st Jan 97 2nd Jan 97 3rd Jan 97 5th Jan 97 ----------- LongGerman would be ---------- 20.11.1996 31.12.1996 01.01.1997 02.01.1997 03.01.1997 05.01.1997 ---------- or whatever unreasonable format would be possible... Probably only one date need to be shown at a time. The rest can be scrolled. You might also summarize using "from .. to .." > supporting old files at > the same is what I can't figure out. It seems to me, the old spec. allows different separators. This is about the most confusing thing. You just need to read ;FF[n] and detect whether n<4. If yes, file-input with the old tools and output as if format would use new style. If the user insists on saving as FF[3], just let him do it using your old code. The only change then appears in your program's *.ini where the country format is denoted. And the user is happy:( --robert jasiek