size_type find_first_of(CharType ch,
                      size_type indx = 0) const;
 //Returns the index of the first occurrence of ch within the invoking string. The search begins at index indx. npos is returned if no match is found.
 
//my date is string the_date and my time is string the_time -- so could I do????>>>>>>
 
size_type find_first_of(CharType ##/##/####, size_type indx = 10) const

size_type find_first_not_of(
                      const string &str,
                      size_type indx = 0) const;
 //Returns the index of the first character within the invoking string that does not match any character in str. The search begins at index indx. npos is returned if no mismatch is found.

bool isValidDate(stringType input)
{
   bool result = true;
   //ensure each placeholder in input is a valid char
   int numerals[8] = {0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
   if(input[2] != '/' || input[5]  != '/')
     result = false;
   for(int i = 0; i < 7; ++i)
     if(!isdigit(input[numerals[i]]))
       result = false;
 
   //parse input into 3 ints representing day, month, year
 
  //now validate that day, month and year are valid integer values for using a calendar.  For example
99/99/9999 would not be valid eventhough each char is valid.  
 
  return result;
}