# compare ordered date strings
     my $result = sprintf("%04d%02d%02d",@date_1[2,0,1])
                  <=>
                  sprintf("%04d%02d%02d",@date_2[2,0,1]);

     # $result is -1, 0 or 1, so amend for output
     # to return only 0 or 1;
     return ($result + $result**2)/2;

[download]
Hmm... That's a neat trick with exponentiation to convert -1 to 0, but wouldn't this be much simpler? 
# compare ordered date strings
return sprintf("%04d%02d%02d",@date_1[2,0,1])
       >
       sprintf("%04d%02d%02d",@date_2[2,0,1]);

[download]

In reply to Re: I'd use something like this... by chipmunk
in thread Is there an easier way? by Sherlock

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