SV* get_date (char* str)
{
    char date[9];     /* the date to return                     */
    char new_date[9]; /* this will be the date after reordering */
    while ( *str++ != '|' );
    strncpy( date, str, 8);
    new_date[0] = date[4];
    new_date[1] = date[5];
    new_date[2] = date[6];
    new_date[3] = date[7];
    new_date[4] = date[0];
    new_date[5] = date[1];
    new_date[6] = date[2];
    new_date[7] = date[3];
    return newSVpv(new_date,8);
}