5 Fixed Dates

This chapter describes how to use the fixed date feature of Gcal. Normally, the fixed dates are stored line by line in a so-called resource file (see Resource file). On request, Gcal searches any of such resource files for those fixed dates, that are happening in the period for which a fixed date list is wanted. If Gcal has found any fixed dates that are happening in the requested period, the program displays them collectively as a fixed date list.

Thus, each time you execute Gcal in simple single month mode, i.e. no explicit month, year or fiscal year is given in the command line, but the fixed date argument, e.g.:

gcal --list-of-fixed-dates
gcal -c

it checks the resource file for dates and processes those that refer to the actual system date (≡today). Then Gcal displays all fixed dates found in the resource file which refer to the actual day (week/month/year) of the actual year, without a leading calendar sheet.

Some more examples:

gcal --ast -ce
gcal -cw-
gcal -c-m
gcal -c-y-
gcal -qbe -jcb -c-et
gcal --zod -cey-
gcal -qfr -jc -cey

The fixed date list can be embraced by different other leading and trailing output, respectively, that is also created by Gcal:

In case you start Gcal with the fixed date argument and/or a month and/or an explicit year or fiscal year; respectively with the special 3-Month mode command, e.g.:

gcal -c july
gcal -qfr -ce 7 1994
gcal -c-y 7/1994
gcal -c 7:1993
gcal -c 1993
gcal -c .
gcal -c .+

Gcal displays a (three) month / year calendar sheet of the specified respectively actual month / year, and trailing those fixed dates found in the resource file that refer to the given period; the intensity level is the same as the -cy option if the period refers to a year or fiscal year or to a three month period, respectively, is the same as the -cm option if the period refers to a month.

If you start Gcal without an explicit date and the fixed date argument in connection with the eternal holiday list argument, e.g.:

gcal -qbe -n -c
gcal -qbe -n -Cm
gcal -qbe -n -Cl1224
gcal -qbe -n -cl3+
gcal -qbe -n -4-

then Gcal displays all fixed dates found in the resource file that refer to the requested period, and after that all holidays of the eternal holiday list that refer to the whole actual year, without a leading calendar sheet. See Eternal Holidays, for more details how to use an eternal holiday list.

Annotation to previous examples:

Each time you execute Gcal in simple single year mode, i.e. no explicit month, year or fiscal year is given in the command line, but the fixed date argument (with optional modifiers) and the number of blocks argument (see Calendar option --blocks=number), e.g.:

gcal -c --blocks=3
gcal -C-em -b 3 --cc-holidays=be
gcal -c-t -b 6 -jc

it checks the resource file for dates and processes those that refer to the actual system date (≡today). Gcal displays a leading year calendar sheet, and all fixed dates found in the resource file that refer to the actual day (week/month/year) of the actual year.

You can list fixed dates of past, present or future month/years, too. This can be done on the one hand, if you use the %date option in the way you require (see Actual date modifier), and on the other hand, if a command respectively a list or range of commands is used.

For example:

‘gcal -qbe -c -n- 1993’

Lists all fixed dates of entire 1993 in ascending order, and the eternal holiday list of entire 1993 in descending order; the intensity level is the same as the -cy option.

‘gcal -c- july:1993’

Lists all fixed dates of fiscal year —starting in July 1993 and ending in June 1994— in descending order; the intensity level is the same as the -cy option.

‘gcal -qbe -ce july 1993’

Lists all fixed dates of July 1993 inclusive all eternal holidays merged into this list in ascending order; the intensity level is the same as the -cm option.

‘gcal -qbe -c-e -n 1993+1996’

Lists all fixed dates of entire 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 (series of years) inclusive all eternal holidays merged into this list in descending order, and the eternal holiday list related to all above years in ascending order; the intensity level is the same as the -cy option.

‘gcal -cm %19920317’

Lists all fixed dates of March 1992 in ascending order.

‘gcal -qbe %1994@e -n -c’

Lists all fixed dates of Easter Sunday 1994 in ascending order, and the eternal holiday list of entire 1994 in ascending order.