DCLHolidays, SYSTEM_MGMT, Calculation of holidays The sample DCL procedure HOLIDAYS.COM (freeware V5) and its successor HOLIDAYS020.COM use a special form auf the Gaussian Easter Algorithm (see reference in the procedure itself) to calculate the date of Easter sunday and from there the dates of other holidays depending on it. Included is the handling of holidays with fixed dates, christmas for example. This procedure has been written in Germany with respect to the local holidays; it may and will require some modifications for other countries. It uses _only_ DCL and _no_ other programming language so it can be used on any OpenVMS system without a need for a separate compiler and its license. This procedure may be usefull if backup or similar operations have to be skipped on such days. (No operator available to handle tape cartridges, for example.) Usage: Include the "check_date" subroutine in your main procedure, call it with the date to be checked as a parameter (OpenVMS absolute date format) and evaluate the value of the symbol(s) $STATUS and/or $SEVERITY. The possible return codes are listed in the subroutine itself. New for V2.0 are (thanks to Paddy O'Brien for suggestions): - a localization option (definition file) - a listing option - a major re-write of the procedure (many loops instead of repeated code segments) The author (i.e., me :-) does not warrant the software but error reports may be sent via e-mail. There even is a real chance that suggestions or enhancement requests get implemented eventually. Michael Unger