User manual

Chapter 2
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Using databases 35
Finding numbers, dates, times, and timestamps
Numbers, dates, times, and timestamps should be entered in the corresponding field types (or calculation
fields returning the corresponding field type) to ensure correct behavior when finding them. See
“About
choosing a field type” on page 58.
Important To avoid confusion when working with dates, always use four-digit years. For more information,
see the Help topic “Conversion of dates with two-digit years.”
To f i n d Type this in the field Examples
A number in a number field or in a
calculation field that produces a numeric
result
The number .50 finds .5, .50, and $.50
A Boolean number in a number field or in a
calculation field that produces a Boolean
result
1 to find True values
0 to find False values
1 finds 1
0 finds 0
A date in a date field or in a calculation field
that produces a date result
The date as digits, separated by a valid
date separator character (such as a
slash or hyphen)
3/3/2010 finds 3/3/2010, March 3, 2010,
and 3-3-2010
Today’s date in a date field or in a
calculation field that produces a date result
// // finds April 4, 2010 (when the current date
is 4/4/2010)
A time in a time field or in a calculation
field that produces a time result
The time as digits, separated by colons 12:53:09 finds 12:53:09
A timestamp in a timestamp field or in a
calculation field that produces a timestamp
result
The date as digits, separated by a valid
date separator character, then the time
as digits, separated by colons
3/3/2010 12:53:09 PM finds 3/3/2010
12:53:09 PM
Invalid dates, times, timestamps, or
calculated date or time results
? ? finds:
Next Tuesday or 2/33/2010 in a date field, or
midnight in a time field
Invalid data (fields containing no numbers)
in a number field or calculation field that
produces a numeric result
? ? finds:
twelve but not 12 or twelve30
Dates on a day of the week in a date or
timestamp field
The day of the week
Note Full or short day names (for
example, Friday or Fri) are
acceptable in day of week searches.
Tuesday finds all dates that occur on a
Tuesday
=Thu finds all dates that occur on a
Thursday
Any valid value for a date or time
component in a date, time, or timestamp
field
* or leave component unspecified,
while specifying the other components
you want to find
3/3/* finds the 3rd day of March in any
year
*:15 finds times that are 15 minutes after
any hour
1/1/* 7 PM finds timestamps in the
7
o’clock hour on January 1st in any year
Note When the year is unspecified, the
current year is assumed.
3/3 finds the 3rd
day of March in the current year
Ranges of information See the next section, “Finding ranges
of information.”