Module development and code questions

I am in the process of writing a module that will take a date as part of creating a node. If there were a form_date() function, I would use that. Because there isn't, I'm here asking for advice.

What is the best and most consistent way to create a date entry on a form?

Thanks for your help!

Has anyone got the gallery.module working with Drupal 4.6.2?

When I try I get a blank page at mysite/gallery.

My local task menu items seem to be alphabetizing themselves rather than appearing in an order I add them. Is there any way to override this? How?

Error - "the document contains no data" when i try to attach a file or image.

Centos(linux)
Apache2
MySQL 3.23.58
drupal 4.6.2
upload.module

These forum topics are related but have no solutions -
http://drupal.org/node/19132
http://drupal.org/node/25835
http://drupal.org/node/20788

Is there anyway to get Trip Search to pass the variables in the URL ala Google or even the Drupal search so that its easy for users to go back to a search later.

I have downloaded the gsitemap module from http://drupal.org/node/26133 and install it, but how to use it? I have install the mysql file and activate the module and also set permissions. Do I have to set an url in the navigation to mysite.xx/gsitemap or how will google find it so its useful??

I found no description, manual or how-to by using it with drupal.

greetings from germany, holger

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