Re: how to compare 2 dates - NOW WITH TIME

[KHMan <keinhong@...>]

Diego - Red Baires wrote:
> [snip]
> table_campaigns have this definitions
>
> record 1
>   this_campaign_applies_from_date = may/6/2008
>   this_campaign_applies_up_to_date = jun/20/2009
>
>   this_campaign_applies_on_this_time = 1pm
>   this_campaign_applies_up_to_this_time = 2pm
>
> record [n] ...
>
> function tell_me_if_a_campaign_must_be_executed() must
> loop into the table, read it records and analize field decribed above.
>
> so, first it compares if today is between the date-ranges of the record,
> if so, then it must compare if this clock-time is between the time-range 
> of the record

And os.time() has everything you need, like we said before.

Example. Midnight of 2009-05-01:

os.time{year=2009,month=5,day=1,hour=0,min=0} -> 1241107200

Day of 2009-05-01 will range from: 1241107200 to
(1241107200 + 24*60*60 - 1) or 1241193599

Verify:
os.time{year=2009,month=5,day=1,hour=23,min=59,sec=59} -> 1241193599

The next day:
os.time{year=2009,month=5,day=2,hour=0,min=0,sec=0} ->
1241193600

Within say 2009-05-01, you want 1pm to 2pm:

os.time{year=2009,month=5,day=1,hour=13,min=0} -> 1241154000
os.time{year=2009,month=5,day=1,hour=14,min=0} -> 1241157600

Then your timing range for that day, 2009-05-01 is from 1241154000 
to 1241157599

So it does looks like os.time() solves your problem. You only need 
to parse your input file properly and ensure that the values for 
each part of each date is valid, mix and match date/time portions 
accordingly, then compare results from os.time().

--
Cheers,
Kein-Hong Man (esq.)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia