EPOCH = 1970-01-01

core/utils.py

@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def current_expo():
     if expos:
         return expos[0].year
     else:
-        return "1970"
+        return settings.EPOCH.year
 
 def only_commit(fname, message):
     """Only used to commit a survex file edited and saved in view/survex.py"""

parsers/logbooks.py

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from troggle.core.models.logbooks import LogbookEntry, PersonLogEntry
 from troggle.core.models.troggle import DataIssue, Expedition
 from troggle.core.utils import get_process_memory, alphabet_suffix, unique_slug
 
+EPOCH = settings.EPOCH
 """
 Parses and imports logbooks in all their wonderful confusion
    See detailed explanation of the complete process:
@@ -32,8 +33,6 @@ e.g. cave descriptions
 
 - attach or link a DataIssue to an individual expo (logbook) so that it can be found and deleted
 
-- replace explicit 1970 date with a constant EPOCH
-
 - rewrite to use generators rather than storing everything intermediate in lists - to 
   reduce memory impact [low priority]
   
@@ -260,8 +259,8 @@ def store_entry_into_database(date, place, tripcave, title, text, trippersons, a
     faster ? 
     """
     other_people = ", ".join(guests) # join list members separated by comma
-    if guests:
-        print(f" {date} - {guests}")
+    # if guests:
+        # print(f" {date} - {guests}")
     
     nonLookupAttribs = {
         "place": place,
@@ -291,7 +290,7 @@ def parser_date(tripdate, year):
     """Interprets dates in the expo logbooks and returns a correct datetime.date object
     Does NOT actually check that it is a truly valid date..
     """
-    dummydate = date(1970, 1, 1) # replace with _EPOCH
+    dummydate = EPOCH
     month = 1
     day = 1
     # message = f" ! - Trying to parse date in logbook: {tripdate} - {year}"
@@ -315,7 +314,7 @@ def parser_date(tripdate, year):
                 yadd = int(year[:2]) * 100
                 day, month, year = int(mdategoof.group(1)), int(mdategoof.group(2)), int(mdategoof.group(4)) + yadd
         else:
-            year = 1970 # replace with _EPOCH
+            year = EPOCH.year
             message = f" ! - Bad date in logbook: {tripdate} - {year}"
             DataIssue.objects.create(parser="logbooks", message=message)
 
@@ -323,7 +322,7 @@ def parser_date(tripdate, year):
     except:
         message = f" ! - Failed to parse date in logbook: {tripdate} - {year}"
         DataIssue.objects.create(parser="logbooks", message=message)
-        return datetime.date(1970, 1, 1) # replace with _EPOCH
+        return EPOCH
 
 
 def parser_html(year, expedition, txt, seq=""):

settings.py

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import sys
+from datetime import date
+
 """
 Django settings for troggle project.
 
@@ -23,7 +25,9 @@ if 'runserver' in sys.argv:
     DEVSERVER = True
 else:
     DEVSERVER = False
-    
+        
+EPOCH = date.fromisoformat('1970-01-01')
+
 # default value, then gets overwritten by real secrets
 SECRET_KEY = "not-the-real-secret-key-a#vaeozn0---^fj!355qki*vj2"