Y2K issues on the Mac: more information

Previously, we covered Pedagoguery Software's statement regarding a possible Y2K on the Mac, and subsequent criticism of the statement. An article in MacTimes follows-up with Pedagoguery's reply to the criticism.

Y2K Software Audit 1.2 is the just released update to Pedagoguery Software's utility for testing for Y2K problems.

Of related interest, an Apple TIL file (#30899) explains some details about how the Mac OS (particularly in combination with ClarisWorks and AppleWorks, although likely to apply to other programs as well) will handle two digit years when Y2K rolls around. In particular:

Beginning in the year 2000: Two-digit years (mm/dd/yy) can be used as follows:

• Years 91-99 will be recognized as being 1991-1999, respectively
• Years 00-90 will be recognized as being in the 21st century
• For dates in the 20th century prior to 1991, it will be necessary to use four-digit dates throughout a file (as described further below).

Beginning in the year 2011

• All two-digit years will be recognized as being in the 21st century. For dates in the 20th century, it will be necessary to use four-digit dates.

Finally, although the clear consensus among most MacFixIt readers was to minimize the extent of the Y2K problem on the Mac, Richard Gordon wrote: "I will take exception to the exception-takers on this issue. As an example, did you know that with the machine clock set to 2001, every 2 digit year in a text file that is imported into an FileMaker Pro 4 date field comes out as 19xx (no call to the toolbox here)?"

Update: Gregory Rivers disputes this claim. He claims that it follows the guidelines indicated in the TIL quoted above."