($YYYY, $MM, $DD) = unpack('A4A2A2', $date);
} else { # legacy clients send YYMMDD
($YYYY, $MM, $DD) = unpack('A2A2A2', $date);
($YYYY, $MM, $DD) = unpack('A4A2A2', $date);
} else { # legacy clients send YYMMDD
($YYYY, $MM, $DD) = unpack('A2A2A2', $date);