Sorry about the goof on the second example -- there was a typo -- it had periods instead of commas

if date() > date(2016,12,15) then
    * some code
endif

Note: You could also extend on the examples given and use datetime values -- using datetime constants of format {^YYYY.MM.DD hh:mm:ss} or call to DATETIME(YYYY,MM,DD,hh,mm,ss) function.

>the first of your examples works fine for me. the second one not so much - but happy to get it going. thanks for help naoto, date formats even in fields have always created issues for me.
>
>k
>
>>>what is the simplest way to express
>>>if date() after December 15 2016
>>>do this
>>>endif
>>>
>>>tnx
>>>Karen
>>
>>You could compare against a date constant of the format {^yyyy.mm.dd} (note the use of the caret symbol -- specifies yyyy.mm.dd format rather than format that would vary by locale or by SET DATE configuration.)
>>
>>

if date() > {^2016.12.15} then
>>    * some code
>>endif

>>
>>alternatively you could use call the DATE function with the year, month and day value --- DATE(yyyy,mm,dd)
>>
>>

if date() > date(2016.12.15) then
>>    * some code
>>endif