Introduction

WordStar for Windows 2.0 is not Y2K compliant and will incorrectly display dates in the 21st century as being in the 20th. Additionally, it will omit the leading zero of dates displayed using just two digits until 2010.

Description of Y2K Problems

• When using the Insert | System Variables | Date mail merge variable the year part of the date will be inserted (invisibly) as 19xx instead of the correct 20xx.
  
  
• When using the Insert | System Variables | Date as Text function the year part of the date will be inserted as:
  
  
  • 19xx if the system date format is set for four-digit year numbers for the date format selected for insertion (long or short date format).
    
    
  • _x in 'short date format' (where _ is a space) if the system date format is set for two-digit year numbers and the year is between 2000 and 2010.
    
    
  • x in 'long date format' if the system date format is set for two-digit year numbers and the year is between 2000 and 2010, i.e., the leading zero from the year number will be missing.

Solution

These errors can be corrected for systems set to use four-digit year numbers by applying a patch to the wswin.dll file.

The patch has been tested on the UK, US, and German versions of wswin.dll,

The patch program is supplied as a small DOS executable file that will read and update the wswin.dll file. Patch application instructions are below.

The patch program can be downloaded using the following link WSWINPAT.COM - executable file (2Kb).

With systems set to use two digits the leading zero problem will remain. However, this can be corrected by use of a macro date insertion program for dates inserted as text - see Q1029 WordStar for Windows 2.0 Macro Program to Correct Insert Date as Text Y2K Error" - the mail merge variable cannot be corrected in this way.

Applying the Y2K Patch to WSWIN.DLL

1. Make a backup copy of your wswin.dll file in the WordStar for Windows 2.0 directory (usually C:\WSWIN). Keep this in a safe place!
   
   
2. Download the patch file using the link above. If you're using Netscape 4 it will try to open the file as text, so right-click the link and select Save Link As
   
   
3. Once you've saved the file to your hard disk, make a backup of it copy it in case you ever need to reinstall WordStar for Windows.
   
   
4. Copy the patch file into your WordStar for Windows directory.
   
   
5. Run the patch file WSWINPAT.COM by double clicking on it from within Windows File Manager or Explorer, or by opening a DOS window and typing C:\WSWIN\WSWINPAT
   
   
6. Start WordStar for Windows and test the Insert | System Variables | Date menu options.
   
   
7. Set your Windows short date format to use a four digit year for full Y2K compliance.
   
   If you need to use two-digit year numbers and use the Insert Date as text option, also follow the instructions in article Q1029 WordStar for Windows 2.0 Macro Program to Correct Insert Date as Text Y2K Error.