OL98: Year 2000 Dates Are Imported and Exported Incorrectly (193604)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 98
This article was previously published under Q193604

SYMPTOMS

In Outlook, when you use date ranges that are formatted with two-digit years to import or export text files, Outlook incorrectly designates some of those years to the wrong century.

CAUSE

The Outlook translation files Transmgr.dll and Rm.dll, do not handle some two-digit dates correctly.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft has made a combined fix available, O98dtfix.exe, to correct both the import and export issues. The O98dtfix.exe file contains the following files: 
   File name      Version
   -----------------------------
   Transmgr.dll   8.05.0000.6511
   Rm.dll         8.05.0000.6430
   Readme.txt
To install this fix:
  1. Create a new folder on your hard disk to download the O98dtfix.exe file to (for example, C:\O98dtfix).
  2. Click the following file to download it from the Microsoft Download Center:

    DownloadDownload O98dtfix.exe now

    Release Date: May 27, 1999

    For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

    Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
  3. Click Save this program to disk, and then click OK.
  4. In the Save As window, click the folder that you created in step 1, and then click Save.NOTE: If you receive error messages when you attempt to download the O98dtfix.exe file, keep trying. If you continue to receive error messages, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. A list of phone numbers is available at the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://support.microsoft.com/directory/directory/phonepers.asp

  5. After you download the O98dtfix.exe file, double-click the folder to which you downloaded the O98dtfix.exe file, and then double-click the O98dtfix.exe file.
  6. When you are prompted for a location to which to extract the files, click Browse, and then click the folder that contains the O98dtfix.exe file. The Transmgr.dll, Rm.dll, and Readme.txt files are extracted to this folder.
  7. Double-click the Readme.txt file for information about how to rename and replace the Transmgr.dll and Rm.dll files on your computer. The "How to Install the Outlook 98 Date Fix" section later in this article also contains the contents of the Readme.txt file.
The international versions of this file are also located on the Download Center.

STATUS

This problem was corrected in Microsoft Outlook 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

Importing Issues

The importing issues are caused by the format of the dates in the incoming import file. For example, an incoming date that is formatted with a two-digit year, such as 7/1/00, is translated to 7/1/1900 instead of 7/1/2000.

Exporting Issues

The exporting issues are caused by the designation of the date range for exportation, for example:

  • If you enter an export date range by using a two-digit year for a valid leap year, such as 2/29/96 or 2/29/00, Outlook does not recognize the valid leap year, and the OK button in the Set Date Range dialog box is not available.
  • If you enter an export date range by using a year value of "99," such as 1/1/99 through 1/31/99, Outlook does not recognize these as valid dates, and the OK button in the Set Date Range dialog box is not available.
  • If you enter an export range by using a year value of "00," such as 1/1/00 through 1/31/00, Outlook exports appointments for the year 1900.
  • If you enter an export range without entering a year value, such as 1/1 through 1/31, Outlook exports appointments for the year 1900.
NOTE: These issues do not occur if you use four-digit year values during the import and export process, nor do they occur when you enter appointments, contacts, and tasks with Outlook forms.

Date Determination in Outlook

The following section describes the intended behavior of the Outlook translation files when they convert dates with two-digit years into dates with four-digit years.

The translation files use a range of 100 years to determine into which century the two-digit year should fall. The default range is computed by subtracting 29 from the current year to derive the lower end of the range, and adding 70 to the current year for the upper end. If the two-digit year plus 1900 falls within this range, the date should be considered to be in the 1900s. Otherwise, the year should be considered to be in the 2000s.

Examples

The translation files use the -29/+70 formula to compute the range as follows: 
   Current year: 1998         Current year: 1998
                  -29                        +70
                 ----                       ----
   Lower end:    1969         Upper end:    2068

Assuming these dates, the four-digit year would be derived as follows: 
   9/14/00 - Outlook would add 1900 to the year, giving 1900.
             1900 does NOT fall within the 100-year range of 1969-2068.
             Therefore, 9/14/00 should be interpreted as 9/14/2000.

   9/14/30 - Outlook would add 1900 to the year, giving 1930.
             1930 does NOT fall within the 100-year range of 1969-2068.
             Therefore, 9/14/30 should be interpreted as 9/14/2030.

   9/14/70 - Outlook would add 1900 to the year, giving 1970.
             1970 DOES fall within the 100-year range of 1969-2068.
             Therefore, 9/14/70 should be interpreted as 9/14/1970.

   9/14/99 - Outlook would add 1900 to the year, giving 1999.
             1999 DOES fall within the 100-year range of 1969-2068.
             Therefore, 9/14/99 should be interpreted as 9/14/1999.

How to Install the Outlook 98 Date Fix

The following text represents the contents of the Outlook 98 Date Fix Readme file. Within this file are step-by-step instructions on installing the update files described above. 
--------------------------------------------------------
      Microsoft Outlook 98 README for O98dtfix.exe
                    May 1999
--------------------------------------------------------
       (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1999

------------
INTRODUCTION
------------

Using Outlook to import or export text files with dates formatted with 
two-digit years results in some years being designated in the wrong century. 

The O98dtfix.exe file contains updated versions of file that fix this
problem. The O98dtfix.exe file contains the following files:

   Transmgr.dll   Updated file (157,184 bytes)
   Rm.dll         Updated file (219,136 bytes)
   ReadMe.txt     Information and instructions

For specific information about the various ways this issue occurs,
See the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q193604. This file can be
accessed at the following Web site:

    http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q193/6/04.asp

------------
INSTALLATION
------------

To install the O98dtfix.exe file, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Windows, the following steps
may be different on your computer. If they are, please consult your product
documentation to complete these steps.

Downloading and Expanding the O98dtfix.exe File
-----------------------------------------------

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.

2. Download or copy the O98dtfix.exe file to an empty folder on your hard
   disk.

3. In Windows Explorer, double-click the O98dtfix.exe file to expand it.

The Transmgr.dll, Rm.dll, and ReadMe.txt files listed in the "Introduction"
section are extracted.

Renaming and Replacing the Affected Files
-----------------------------------------

Quit all programs so that your original Transmgr.dll and Rm.dll files 
are not in use, and follow these steps to rename the file:

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder containing your old
   Transmgr.dll and Rm.dll files. By default, this is:

      C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Convert

   If you have installed Microsoft Office in a different location, then use
   that location to locate your original files. 

2. Right-click each file, and then click Rename on the shortcut
   menu.

3. Rename the files to Transmgr.old and Rm.old and then press ENTER.

Copying the New Files into the Office Folder
--------------------------------------------

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder where you expanded
   O98dtfix.exe.

2. Drag the new Transmgr.dll and Rm.dll files to the folder containing the
   renamed files, Transmgr.old and Rm.old (typically C:\Program Files\ 
   Microsoft Office\Office\Convert).

3. In Windows Explorer, on the File menu, click Close.

4. Click Start, and click Shut Down. Click Restart The Computer,
   and then click Yes.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/22/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbdownload kbbug kbfix kbgraphxlinkcritical kbQFE KB193604
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