wales@ucla-cs.UUCP (09/02/84)
I have posted a date-string parser to "net.sources". This package will
recognize dates in just about any conceivable (and quite a few incon-
ceivable) formats. It will also output date strings in RFC822 and UUCP
mail formats.
It will understand all kinds of time zone abbreviations (based on the
results of a "Header-People" discussion of several months ago). Its
RFC822-style output format, however, is careful to use only abbrevia-
tions allowed in RFC822.
One big reason a generalized date parser is attractive is that lots of
mail programs out there are STILL outputting date lines that don't even
come close to conforming to RFC822. Please don't anyone interpret my
publicizing my date parser as being a tacit approval of non-standard
date formats, though. And, please, no flames about how a fancy date
parser wouldn't be necessary if everyone would just change their mailers
to conform to the standard; I know that, but I'm not going to hold my
breath until everyone fixes their mail code.
Anyone is welcome to use this package in any way they want, as long as
they keep the copyright notices in the code and document any changes
they make (so that I don't end up having buggy code wrongly attributed
to me when the bugs were in fact introduced by someone else who changed
my original source).
I have tested this stuff quite thoroughly and believe it is bug-free
(famous last words :-). However, if anyone finds any problems in it,
please let me know.
If anyone reading this who does not have USENET access (and thus can't
get "net.sources" stuff) wants this package, send me a message and I
will mail you a copy.
--
Rich Wales
UCLA Computer Science Department
3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, CA 90024 // (213) 825-5683
ARPA: wales@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA
UUCP: ...!{cepu,ihnp4,trwspp,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!wales