Recommend Method of Handling Temporary Approximate Dates

[Acidburning]

I have my Data Types sent to "Date/Time" and a format YYYY/MM/DD.

What is a good method of handling approximate dates? IE: Early April 2012, or ~5/14/2012, or TBD.

Eventually, I want to create queries to calculate dates against each other.


thanks

[orange]

How would you define approximate date?
Can you give a definition and a couple of examples?

[Acidburning]

How would you define approximate date?
Can you give a definition and a couple of examples?

sometimes we are working with approximate or floating dates for scheduling. Eventually, these become hard dates.
Some examples of the information we get from clients:
- Early July 2012
- End of Sept 2012
- Q42012
- ~7/13/2012

I still want to be able to calculate days from the estimated dates.
So if I took the example of "~7/13/2012"
One solution I have is just to use 7/13/2012 in my table (Data Type set to Date/Time). But I need a way to flag that date, since it was an estimate/ approximate date. Should I just add a yes/no column toggle next to the date for Actual/ Estimate?

Is there a way to make exceptions in the Data Type Date/Time to allow a character to flag estimated dates, ie: "~"

Thanks,

[orange]

I think this would work

yes/no column toggle next to the date for Actual/ Estimate