Date Conversion Techniques

[h=1]DATE CONVERSION TECHNIQUES FOR THE D'NI SCHOLAR[/h]

[h=2]Introduction[/h]

The conversion of dates between D'ni and human calendars presents an unusual challenge to the student of D'ni history. While a great deal of information is available regarding human timekeeping systems and conversions, the information needed to relate these to the D'ni system has been difficult to find. In addition, many D'ni researchers are not familiar with the techniques for converting among human calendars, much less the techniques required to convert these to or from the D'ni (or Cavernian) calendar.

This article attempts to correct that situation by drawing together all available information3 on the D'ni timekeeping system and its relationship to human measures of time. While this information will be of particular interest to programmers who wish to implement calendar conversions, the techniques presented can easily be applied using a hand calculator, or formulas in a spreadsheet.

[h=2]Human Timekeeping[/h]

Before delving into the D'ni timekeeping system, some background in human timekeeping is required.

The calendar of primary interest in this discussion is the Gregorian calendar, which was proclaimed by Pope Gregory in 1582 and is now universally used in western countries and in international commerce. A great deal of in-depth information on this calendar, as well as other human calendars, is available from Web articles such as Fact Index: Gregorian Calendar and the Fourmilab Calendar Converter. However, only a few basic facts are important for the purposes of this article.

The Gregorian calendar is based on an average solar year of 365.2425 days, divided into common years of 365 days and leap years of 366. The calendar can be extended to dates prior to its invention by following the calendar