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TSP & the year 2000

by Clint Cummins, rev. 12/18/96

TSP is year 2000 compliant. The details of date-handling are shown below.

TSP uses years in 3 ways:

1. To "time stamp" the output file, in a format like 12/31/99 or 01/01/00.

This time stamp can also be applied to data series, with the DOC or STORE commands. However, there is no capability for sorting by this time stamp; it is merely displayed. This 8-byte time stamp is formatted by the TSP subroutine MCLOCK, which uses a system- dependent "system clock" subroutine to get the current time and date. MCLOCK subtracts either 1900 or 2000 from the year, if it is 4 digits, to obtain the 2-digit field for the time stamp. Old versions (prior to 1995?) Of MCLOCK may only subtract 1900, so they could result in ** in the final field, since 100 (2000- 1900) does not fit. TSP itself would not crash.

2. To select a range of years for data analysis, like SMPL 1984:1,2002:4;

Users will probably want to use the 4-digit date format for years beyond 1999. They have the option of using a 2-3 digit date format, though. For example, the above command could be written as SMPL 84:1,2002:4; (add 1900 to the first date) or as SMPL 84:1,102:4; (add 1900 to both dates) Technically, the highest 3-digit year which TSP will add 1900 to is 199, so this method can be used up to 199 (for 2099). However, probably most people will prefer to use 4 digit years instead.

There is an additional option which varies the number which is added to 2-3 digit years. It is called BASEYEAR, and its default is 1900. If the sample was entirely 2000 and higher, this could be useful. For example:

OPTIONS BASEYEAR=2000; SMPL 0:1,13:12; (same as SMPL 2000:1,2013:12; )

This option can also be used like OPTIONS BASEYEAR=0; to select data near the year zero, or for negative years (B.C.).

3. To mark the starting date of a time series, such as 1984:1 or 2002:1 .

Each time series in TSP remembers its own frequency and starting date, so that it can be aligned with other series of the same or different frequency or starting date. These dates are in 4 digit format, so they will not be altered if BASEYEAR changes. These dates are retained in databanks and Lotus/Excel spreadsheet files.

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