topic How does function Today() work? in QlikView

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:14:08 GMT

I'm using QV10 SR2 and I'm a little bit confused about function Today(). In help it states that there are 3 different modes:

0 Date at script run

1 Date at function call

2 Date when the document was opened

Default timer_mode is 2. The timer_mode = 1 should be used with caution, since it polls the operating system every second and hence could slow down the system.

But when I execute it in mode 2 (default) or 0, it gives me old dates. I would expect that...

2 gives me the date when the document was opened. That means if it is reloaded by server then it should be the date when the server touches the document.
0 gives me the date when the script runs. That means if it is reloaded by Server then it should be the date when script execution starts.
1 gives me the date when the function is called. That means if it is reloaded by Server then it should be the date when exactly this function is reached while script execution.

So, what's wrong then?

How does function Today() work?

brenner_martina — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:28:10 GMT

Hi, einsTeln.NET,

I think it is easy, you get allways the systemdate from windows:

2 = date from today only one systemcall at reload the document (not only from Server, even direct reload)

0 = date of the last reload (not only from Server, even direct reload) and this is not like Date(ReloadTime())

1 = date, that is permanently checked with the system

Greetings from Munich

Martina

EVACO GmbH

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:45:34 GMT

Yeah, I know that it is looking at system's clock. I already checked if the clock is alright.

Ok, that would mean if I use mode 0 (last reload) and I reload once a day then it would give me always the date of the last day. That is not what I want.

If mode 2 should give me the date when the current reload started then it definitely doesn't work (or in contrast to what is stated in help mode 2 isn't default).

How does function Today() work?

brenner_martina — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:51:51 GMT

once again:

today() or Today(2) means the systemdate of your computer resp. server.

today(0) is the date of the previous reload

ReloadTime() is the timestamp of your last reload

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:02:21 GMT

Yeah, I understand. But Today() [which should be the same like Today(2)] gives me an old date even though the server's system date is correct. I scheduled a reload of that document at about 2 o'clock am and it gives me the date of the day before.

How does function Today() work?

brenner_martina — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:18:58 GMT

are you sure, that the date on the server is right?

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:25:51 GMT

Yes, I checked it several times. I think I'm going mad...

How does function Today() work?

brenner_martina — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:29:45 GMT

Try the function Now() or Date(Now()) to look at the date of the server. But be careful, it shows every second.

How does function Today() work?

Miguel_Angel_Baeyens — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:34:30 GMT

Hi,

Today() returns always using the format stored into the script DateFormat variable (usually at the top of the first tab). Is that format correct? What does it return when you use Now() instead? (Should get the current date and time).

Regards.

Miguel

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:48:14 GMT

Now() gives me the current datatime, works! Date format is also correct.

How does function Today() work?

brenner_martina — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:56:28 GMT

Then must Today() give also the right value!

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:06:35 GMT

I'm with you, but don't forget I tested it by now and not on daily reload. It looks like the first reload on a new day returns the old date of the day before, every subsequently reload seems to work.

How does function Today() work?

brenner_martina — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:14:09 GMT

ok, so that makes me crazy, too!

Re: How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:23:32 GMT

It looks like it uses Today(0).

How does function Today() work?

swuehl — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:04:40 GMT

May I ask where you use the today() call? In the script or UI?

And you use the Server to schedule the reload?

If you use it in the script and you want to make sure to always get the current date, I would suggest to use Today(1).

I think the script run date ( Today(0) ) will not be set before after the run has finished.

Re: How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:21:37 GMT

Yeah, you are right. It's in the script and the reload is scheduled on server.

Right, my current workaround is to use Today(1). But from my point of view it should also work if I use Today() or Today(2). And help says something about performance issues when I use Today(1).

swuehl schrieb:
I think the script run date ( Today(0) ) will not be set before after the run has finished.

Yes, Martina already mentioned that.

Re: How does function Today() work?

swuehl — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:29:03 GMT

I believe you won't get any performance issues in the script. This note is considering UI use only, IMHO.

What I intended to say:

Today(0) will return the date of the last successful script run. So, on the first run of a day, you get the previous day returned (edit: if called from the script, like in this case!)

Not sure about today() / today(2), this might be depending on how the server handles your document while reloading / if your document is already open.

How does function Today() work?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:44:43 GMT

Yeah, that's it. Help considers only use in UI, not in script.

That means if reload is done by server then the document isn't really open. If I use Today()/Today(2) in script then I get the date when I last opened the document in QV client. That means the only way to get around this is to use Today(1) instead (only true if used just in script)!!

Cheers everybody!

How does function Today() work?

rwunderlich — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:01:02 GMT

See http://qlikviewnotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/now-trap.html for more on this issue. The blog discusses now(), but applies to today() as well.

-Rob

http://robwunderlich.com

Re: How does function Today() work?

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 16:20:04 GMT

Today(0) is the date of the previous reload not the date at script run !!!