Validate a year

Question

Hi,
I'm using forms6i.
I have a text field in my form to enter Year. How can i programmatically check whether the year is valid or not?
I'm doing like this right now
Declare
      Format_Error EXCEPTION;
      PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT(Format_Error, -01830);
      conv_year Date;
Begin
           If      :PYEAR is null then
               Msg_Alert('Enter a Year!','I',FALSE);
          Else
                     conv_year := to_date(:PYEAR , 'YYYY');
          End if;
Exception
     When Format_Error then
     Msg_alert('Enter a Valid Year !','E',TRUE);
     When Others then
     Msg_Alert('Exception '||sqlerrm,'E',TRUE);
End;Is this the right way to check for a valid year?
Thanks

Answer 1

If your input field is/has to be VARCHAR2 try this:
Declare
conv_year Date;
function valid_year(pYr VARCHAR2) return boolean is
vTemp DATE;
begin
vTemp := to_date(pYr,'YYYY');
return TRUE;
exception
when others then
return FALSE;
end;
Begin
if not valid_year(:pyear)
then
Msg_Alert('Enter a Year!','I',FALSE);
Else
conv_year := to_date(:PYEAR , 'YYYY');
End if;
end;