I own a small business. In the past two weeks I have been to 7 of my local vendors to pick up products, materials. 6 out of 7 still show "99" in the date fields on printed materials ( incoices, receipts, etc. ). The 7th showed "1999".

If their receipts, invoices etc. are still showing 2 digit dates, can my vendor systems be compliant?

-- Joe (rpja38a@prodigy.com), June 11, 1999

Answers

Joe,

While not a 100% accurate on telling if they are, yes they can be compliant while showing a 2 digit field. You can't automatically assume the 1999 one is though either;)

-- b (b@b.b), June 11, 1999.

We're doomed I tell ye, doomed. Doomed Doomed! Doomed! Doomed!! Doomed!!! Doomed!!!!

-- Fossilized GI (IGI@do.you), June 11, 1999.

You are missing the whole problem. Whether a two digit or a four digit date is printed says absolutely nothing about Y2K compliancy.

Usually dates are printed in the 2 digit format for convenience and to save space. For example, when I write checks next year, I will date them like 2/15/00 for convenience. No one will mistakenly interpret that the check was written in 1900.

Same with your receipt. There is no concern that someone will mistakenly think your receipt was from 1900 since no one keeps receipts that long, and they didn't have those receipts in 1900 anyway.

Whether 2 digits or 4 digits is printed does not matter. A truly Y2K ready system can print either 2 or 4 digit dates. An non- compliant system can also print either 2 or 4 digit dates.

You need to use a little common sense before you buy in to the Y2K paranoia.

-- Guy (y2kguy@aol.com), June 11, 1999.

True - the printed output may or may not indicate a problem.

To answer the question you really need answered: Ask each vender, first in person (to get a "feel" by their non-verbal responses) "When they have their Y2K testing scheduled to finish?"

That way, if testing is done, they can tell you. If they have not started, or have no intention of starting, you can tell whether they take its implications seriously. If they are lying, or attempt to cover up the issue or evade it entirely, send a letter requesting their status with an implied, or a direct threat to "cancel" their contract if they do not respond.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), June 11, 1999.

I MADE AN IMPORTANT OBSERVATION AND YET NO ONE LISTENS TO ME. YOU PEOPLE DESERVE Y2K!!!!!!!!!

-- Crusty Old Y2Ker (angry@these.pollys), June 11, 1999.