METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING THE MILLENNIUM BUG

摘要

This invention provides techniques for modifying computer files without makingitnecessary to recompile the computer files. The methods of the invention haveparticularapplication in diagnosing and correcting the millennium bug in computer filesof personalcomputers. The method of the invention includes detecting in a computer fileone or moreportions of the computer file which contain a specified pattern. The detectedportions of thecomputer file may, then be replaced without recompiling the computer file. Thedetectionmay be carried out in binary format and the replacement may be carried outusingreplacement portions expressed in hexadecimal format. The method may be usedto replaceshort date formats in the computer file with long date formats withoutaltering the functioningof the computer file. The invention may be provided in the form of anapparatus forcorrecting the millennium bug in a computer file. The apparatus detects andreplacesdefective date formats in a computer tile with respective corrected dateformats withoutaltering the functioning of the computer file.