# DATE

> [HTML Version](datesystemvariable.htm)

The DATE system variable always contains the current date in 'separated date format' as given below. Also see the related but separate dot variable [.DATE](dotvariables.htm.md).

Note that in order to split the DATE system variable out into the individual fields, you have to assign it to a B,4 variable that overlayss the 4 byte structure (BDATE in the example above). Setting SDATE = DATE will not work, since SDATE is an unformatted variable, which will result in a data conversion during the assignment.

You may also use the formal structure ST\_SEPDATE defined in ashell.sdf as:

defstruct ST\_SEPDATE          \! standard separated date format

    map2 sdate

        map3 mon,b,1          \! month of year (1-12)

        map3 day,b,1          \! day of month (1-31)

        map3 yr,b,1           \! year - 1900

        map3 dow,b,1          \! day of week (0=mon, 6=sun)

    map2 sysdate,b,4,@sdate   \! use for assigning from DATE sys var

endstruct



For example...

\++include ashinc:ashell.sdf

map1 birthdate, ST\_SEPDATE

birthdate.sysdate = DATE

? "month: ";birthdate.mon;  ", day: ";birthdate.day; ", year: "; (1900+birthdate.yr)



**See Also:**

•	[.DATE and .YYMMDD dot variables](timesystemvariable.htm.md)

•	[ODTIM](odtim_sbr.htm.md)[XS](keyword-types.htm.md)

•	[ODTIM()](odtim().htm.md)

•	[DATES](keyword-types.htm.md)[XS](keyword-types.htm.md)

•	[DSTOI](dstoisbr.htm.md)[XS](keyword-types.htm.md)

•	[JULCVT](julcvt_sbr.htm.md)[XS](keyword-types.htm.md)