Read XML date (d/M/y) format & convert to date object

[Gretsch]

Hi,

I have some XML data which contains a date in dd/mm/yyyy format (ie UK date format).

In javascript I need to read this date then calculate the age (in days& decimals) of the XML data.

I can get today's date in milliseconds:

var current_date = new Date();
var date1_ms = current_date.getTime();

but I can't see how to read the XMLdate in UK format, I have the XML date (string) in a var called docdate & I thought this should work:

   var date2 = Date.parseString(docdate,"d/M/yyyy");
var date2_ms = date2.getTime();

Then I can sutract date1_ms from date2_ms to get the age in milliseconds, but the Date.parseStrin g(docdate,"d/M/yyyy"); doesnt work. and my alternative of:
var date2=Date/parse(docdate." d/M/yyyy")
ignores my format command and reads the date as US format.

Can any one give me the correct line oif code, or a better one:-) or point me to a reference. Everything I;ve found formats the date for OUTPUT rather than INPUT.
Thanks.

[pbmods]

Heya, Gretsch.

To output a date in a custom format, you'll have to use Date::getYear() , Date::getDay(), etc. and manually build the string piecemeal.

[Gretsch]

Thanks pbmods,

...but I assume Date::getMonth( ) would get the first 2 digits of my dateString (in the mistaken belief that it was in US date format)
.. or have I misunderstood your suggestion?

[pbmods]

Heya, Gretsch.

Good point.

To do that, you will have to create an array and reference its index. E.g.,
[code=javascript]
var months = ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', ..., 'Dec'];
alert(months[theDate.getMont h() - 1]);
[/code]

[mrhoo]

the getMonth and other Date methods don't work on strings, but only on Date objects. You don't need to worry about reading a date, but about the way you create the Date from your string input.

If you are using a dd/mm/yyyy formatted string you can assemble the Date by splitting the string on non digits and using the returned array elements-
[code=javascript]
var dString= '01/08/2007';
var dArray= dString.split(/\D+/);
var dDate= new Date(dArray[2],dArray[1]-1,dArray[0]);[/code]

[Gretsch]

Excellent - thanks very much

[pbmods]

Heya, Mr. Hoo.

Please use CODE tags when posting source code:

[CODE=javas cript]
JavaScript code goes here.
[/CODE]