Solving the Year 2000 Problem

When people began writing computer software in the 1950s and 1960s, many thought the computer systems they built would become obsolete and soon be put out of existence. Therefore, to save computing time and memory, the year 1900 was represented as "00". Unfortunately, when 2000 arrives, it will also be "00". Therein lies the beginning of the problem. It is made worse by the fact that simply changing dates doesn't solve the real problem - computer programmers use dates in many ways, so much so that the only solution is for programmers to look at their code. Reviewing all code that a corporation has developed is a huge task. This text offers a brief yet thorough explanation of what the year 2000 problem is, how it came about, and its urgency in the worldwide arena. It examines the costs involved to correct the problem and the dangers of not correcting it at all. The author also discusses what to look for and where to look for it, and offers solutions that will keep any organization - business or government - well into the next century. The book offers a five-step process to handle the change to the year 2000.