/**
* handleDateFormat
*
* This function handles returning a datetime value. It allows a user instance to be passed in, but will default to the
* user member variable instance if none is found.
*
* @param string $date String value of the date to calculate, defaults to 'now'
* @param object $user The User instance to use in calculating the time value, if empty, it will default to user member variable
* @param boolean $user_format Boolean indicating whether or not to convert to user's time format, defaults to false
*
* @return string Formatted datetime value
*/
function handleDateFormat($date = 'now', $user = null, $user_format = false)
{
global $timedate;
if (!isset($timedate) || empty($timedate)) {
$timedate = new TimeDate();
}
// get user for calculation
$user = empty($user) ? $this->user : $user;
if ($date == 'now') {
$dbTime = $timedate->asUser($timedate->getNow(), $user);
} else {
$dbTime = $timedate->asUser($timedate->fromString($date, $user), $user);
}
// if $user_format is set to true then just return as th user's time format, otherwise, return as database format
return $user_format ? $dbTime : $timedate->fromUser($dbTime, $user)->asDb();
}