# "Question mark" in dates **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Tags:** hacks\ **Created:** [February 27, 2025, 9:10am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121 "2025-02-27T09:10:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SergMax2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SergMax2](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SergMax2)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 9:10am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/1 "2025-02-27T09:10:01Z")
How to enter an unknown date of birth or death using a “question mark”, for example, (1877 - ?) or (? - 12.05.1913). If you enter a question mark in the date entry form, it is not displayed in the report image. ---
**Author:** ![DaveSch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/davesch/32/40_2.png) [@DaveSch](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/DaveSch)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/2 "2025-02-27T11:48:43Z")
If you enter the date using the [Date Selector](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gramps_5.2_Wiki_Manual_-_Entering_and_editing_data%3A_detailed_-_part_1#Editing_dates), the question mark (?) can only be entered as Text with the selector’s Type as Text Only. Entering ? in the event’s Date field directly also works. Obviously, Gramps does not recognize it as a valid date and displays it as red in the editor and bold italic (_ **?** _) in a list. > [@SergMax2](#): > > it is not displayed in the report image. Which report are you using? A quick test and ? appeared in the date fields of the [Complete Individual](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_5.2_Wiki_Manual_-_Reports_-_part_6#Complete_Individual_Report) report. ---
**Author:** ![trlvn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/trlvn/32/1148_2.png) [@trlvn](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/trlvn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/3 "2025-02-27T15:37:26Z")
I think you want to use the modifiers “Before” or “After”. Eg “After 1877” or “Before 12.05.1913”. Craig ---
**Author:** ![SergMax2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SergMax2](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SergMax2)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/4 "2025-02-27T16:16:39Z")
I want to be able to see a “question mark” in the graph (see below) where the birth or death is unknown. The “before or after” options are not acceptable. Is it possible to fix it programmatically or via an additional on/off option in the graph drawing menu? ![Gramps2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/c/cf6f062a5530d95c3298084961e4c593d98665cb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/5 "2025-02-27T17:00:30Z")
Could I ask which Graph you are Trying to use. Graph View will handle this without issue. I use ~ for circa, \< before, \> after, \>\< between these are all taken to be plain text not usable dates. I have modified the date handling routines but only for my own benefit. They are extremely complicated to navigate, fortunately I am not interested in doing date based calculation phil ---
**Author:** ![SergMax2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SergMax2](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SergMax2)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/6 "2025-02-27T17:24:39Z")
I use the graph from the menu “Reports-Graphs-Relationship Graph…” I want to put exactly the “question mark”, without the words “before” and “after”. ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/7 "2025-02-27T17:34:38Z")
The Question mark tends to invoke special handling features (like wildcards and URL parameter passing) in programming. For a placeholder, have you tried an **emoji**? Emojis are available by right-clicking the Date field and using the “Insert emoji” context menu option. (You can enter a search term “ques” to find related emojis from which to select.) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/d/d2fad5d6dedbbfd06d3e34c2ea3244e1a98902e8.png) I have NOT tried using the emoji options … so I do not know what reception they will have in Charts and Reports. Not an experiment that calls to me either. ---
**Author:** ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/8 "2025-02-27T18:14:47Z")
You can certainly try emojs but they certainly do not sort correctly as part of the date, not sure about anything else phil ---
**Author:** ![SergMax2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SergMax2](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SergMax2)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/9 "2025-02-27T18:15:18Z")
Smileys are original! But my question smiley (and other smileys) don’t show up on dates, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![SNoiraud](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/snoiraud/32/72_2.png) [@SNoiraud](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SNoiraud)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/10 "2025-02-27T18:17:42Z")
I think invalid dates are not shown with this report. If you want this, make a feature request. ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/11 "2025-02-27T18:29:50Z")
> [@SergMax2](#): > > and other smileys) don’t show up on dates, unfortunately. Too bad. I thought maybe using Flag Emojis might be a compact way to chart Immigration history. ---
**Author:** ![SNoiraud](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/snoiraud/32/72_2.png) [@SNoiraud](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SNoiraud)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/12 "2025-02-27T19:54:08Z")
To be displayed, you must have a valid year. If you want, you can try the following: replace line 827 in gramps/plugins/graph/gvrelgraph.py ```python if event_date.get_year_valid(): ``` by ```python if event_date: ``` Does it work for you in all cases ? ---
**Author:** ![SergMax2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SergMax2](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SergMax2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 10:09am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/13 "2025-02-28T10:09:02Z")
The software correction was successful, the “question mark” is now shown in the dates of birth and death in the picture. The problem is solved, thanks **SNoiraud**! ---
**Author:** ![SNoiraud](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/snoiraud/32/72_2.png) [@SNoiraud](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SNoiraud)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/14 "2025-02-28T10:16:43Z")
Could you make a feature request to add an option for the next release ? ---
**Author:** ![SergMax2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SergMax2](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SergMax2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/15 "2025-02-28T10:29:07Z")
I have never made a feature request, so I don’t know the methodology. If you need the text of the problem, it could be as follows: ===It is suggested to add a new option CHECK LIFE DATES ON/OFF to the menu “Reports-Graphs-Relationship Graph…”. The changes should be made to line 827 in gramps/plugins/graph/gvrelgraph.py=== ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/1X/2ac1e712b7adf612e31ca08a55419f4cf37c0158.png) [@system](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/question-mark-in-dates/7121/16 "2025-03-30T10:29:34Z")
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