>Even when I use {^1999-12-24} I get that wretched error. Date() as an argument also gets that error. What is a certain way to avoid this please?

Somethings wrong here. Are you saying that if you put

?{^1999-12-24}

in the command window, you get an error? What do you mean that DATE() as an argument causes the error? Please post the code that causes this error, along with your current SET STRICTDATE setting.