Jquery Date Picker Validation - format issue

Question

Hi ,
I am using 2 text items with Jquery dateicker for start date and end date items.
I have to now write a JS validation to ensure start date <= end date.
The dateformat of my items are 'd-M-yy' (02-Mar-2010) .....
When I try to use the Date.parse() function , it gives me an invalid date error....
If I change the date format to mm/dd/yy (03/02/2010) then there is no problem, I can use Date.parse() and compare the two dates, I get no error . However I need the date format to be : 02-Mar-2010
Below is a simple version of the JS function Iam using to compare dates and alert error
function f_validate()
var a = $v('P1_START_DATE');
var b = $v('P1_END_DATE');
var startDate = new Date();
var endDate = new Date();
startDate = Date.parse(a);
endDate = Date.parse(b);
// if I alert() startDate or endDate it says invalid date
if (startDate>endDate){
alert('error');
else
doSubmit();
} Has anybody done a similar validation with Jquery datepickers in the format 'd-M-yy' ?
Also how Can I use $.datepicker.parseDate function within my Javascript function so that I can convert the dates to the default format and then compare them....
Appreciate any ideas/pointers
Thanks,
Dippy
Edited by: Dippy on Mar 2, 2010 12:42 AM

Answer 1

I've used the following without problems:
   var gasDay = $v('P0_GAS_DAY');
   var gasDayDate = new Date();
   gasDayDate = $.datepicker.parseDate('dd-M-yy', gasDay,
      monthNamesShort : ['JAN', 'FEB', 'MAR', 'APR', 'MAY', 'JUN', 'JUL', 'AUG', 'SEP', 'OCT', 'NOV', 'DEC']
   );