It was me who mentioned the default Windows date format. I agree - it really
is no problem to change it - when you are aware of the options (either in
Windows, or, as you rightly point out Bill, in Excel). The problem is that
most people are simply too lazy or unaware to change the default - they assume
that what Windows comes with is what you get. Hence the regression (in Canada)
to the MM-DD-YYYY format as the default, and I can trace this regression to the
period between 1995 (when Windows first appeared) and today. Notwithstanding
this, I do notice that my recently renewed Ontario Drivers Licence is still in
YYYY-MM-DD format (which caused some confusion when I rented a car in San Diego
a few years ago) - issue date 2008/06/25, Expiry 2012/04/13, height 175 cm.
(And yes, the separator is the forward slash, not the hyphen.)
Martin mentioned the use in South Africa of DD-MM-YYYY in English and
MM-DD-YYYY in Afrikaans. I must admit this must have been bizarre! I did
live in SA in 1969 to 1971, and was not aware of this difference - but then I
didn't speak Afrikaans, so probably didn't come into direct contact with it.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Potts
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 7:48 PM
Subject: [USMA:43648] Re: 24 hour time
I don't see it as a major problem. I have no difficulty saying 1776-07-04 out
loud and without hesitation as "July the fourth, seventeen-seventy-six." I have
to admit, though, I can see it as a problem for anyone who is dyslexic.
("Dyslexics of the World untie!")
Someone mentioned the MS Windows default on date format. As Windows allows an
easy change to ISO-8601 format (yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss), resetting it is simply a
one-time task. MS Excel is equally flexible for cells in date and time columns.
The ISO-8601 formats are in the "Custom" list. I receive membership
spreadsheets, regularly, with expiration dates in US format. It takes me about
15 s to change the applicable column to ISO-8601 format.
Bill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Potts
WFP Consulting
Roseville, CA
http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]
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From: owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf
Of Stephen Mangum
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 11:38
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:43645] Re: 24 hour time
I prefer DD-MM-YYYY (and other formats in this order), but have found
myself writing YYYY-MM-DD as of late. The problem I have with the latter is the
difficulty in reading it. 4 July 1776 can be read "the fourth of July,
seventeen seventy six." How does one read 1776-07-04? Or is the discussion
about announcements and hours and not prose? What I like about the ISO standard
is the lack of confusion: I think most Americans will know what it means, while
they will read 04/07/1776 as "March seventh."
Stephen Mangum
On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 11:16 AM, Brian J White <br...@bjwhite.net> wrote:
There aren instances where that's handy.....but really, ISO standard is
the way to go, worldwide.
It's more hidden than anything else. I usually see it on receipts and
schedules and such. But not for "human" use per se. Shame too, because it
works nicely worldwide.
At 11:08 2009-03-10, Stephen Humphreys wrote:
I like the "Oracle" (huge US software company) way of doing things:
'DD-MON-RR' or 'DD-MON-YYYY'
So today would be 10-MAR-09 or 10-MAR-2009
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From: stan.do...@verizon.net
To: usma@colostate.edu
Subject: [USMA:43635] Re: 24 hour time
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:18:24 -0400
You are correct in fostering the use of the ISO date format; however,
I prefer to use a dash (-) rather than a slash (/) as a separator in
the date format.
For example 20009-03-10. A dash makes it better readable.
Stan Doore
----- Original Message -----
From: John Frewen-Lord
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 5:49 AM
Subject: [USMA:43628] Re: 24 hour time
The best way for the US to change its date format is to go straight
to the ISO format of YYYY/MM/DD. When Canada converted in the late '70s, this
was the official format at the time, and all Canadian Federal and Provincial
government documentation at the time had to follow this format.
Regretfully, and primarily thanks to Mr Gates, this seems to have
been abandoned, due in no small part to Windows defaulting to the US-only
format, regardless of which country it is sold in.
This is not merely of academic interest. I bank with HSBC, and have
both UK and Canadian bank accounts, including something called Global View,
where I can view on line (and switch money on line between) my accounts in both
countries simultaneously. The UK accounts are shown in DD/MM/YY format. The
Canadian ones are shown in MM/DD/YY format when looking at statement summaries
or selecting a date range to view a statement - but the individual entries in
that statement are shown in DD/MM/YY format! Needless to say this is
infuriating and confusing, and I wonder why HSBC do this, as they are UK-based.
However, my printed Canadian statements are postmarked in NY State with US
postage, so there must be a US connection in there somewhere.
If anyone does online currency trading, all the trading platforms are
in YYYY/MM/DD format, and various online videos I receive from US-based gurus
and experts are also usually shown in this format. This does save a lot of
confusion.
----- Original Message -----
From: David
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 9:07 AM
Subject: [USMA:43625] 24 hour time
What are the changes of the United States adopting 24 hour time
instead of the AM/PM thing? Would there be some kind of law (which would
probably occur after metrication) or would it just be one of those things
people just adopt? What about date standards? I would like to see America start
using DD/MM/YY instead of MM/DD/YY. What does it take for a country to adopt a
date/time standard?
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--
Stephen
