ZEN : Allow multiple date formats in a dateText control and converting them to the YYYY-MM-DD

Question

There is a finite list of date formats that users want to use to enter a date in a form. These formats include single digits for month and day and double digits for year. The field is represented by a dateText control.

How would one get to allow a dateText control to accept multiple date formats ? I see only 3 listed (https://docs.intersystems.com/latest/csp/docbook/DocBook.UI.Page.cls?KEY=GZCP_forms_dateText), do those include using single digits for month and day ?

I tried to set the value of format = "#(myPageProperty.myValue)# " but I got a compilation error in Studio so that went nowhere. Has anyone ever been able to set the format value depending on the user input value?

I am guessing that the control input value must be converted to the YYYY-MM-DD before validation. I am open to calling a javascript function to do that but where would be the best place to put it?

Answer 1

for details see Class %ZEN.Component.dateText

setting format:

Property format As %ZEN.Datatype.string(MAXLEN = 3, **VALUELIST = ",MDY,DMY,YMD",** ZENEXPRESSION = 1)  

you have exactly 3 formats or ""

Your guess on values is correct and documented:
/// The value of this control is always in the canonical form: YYYY-MM-DD

As this is one of the oldest components of ZEN your only chance to achieve
your way of operation is to create your own version inheriting from
Class %ZEN.Component.dateText and overloading the parts you want to change