I need to create a dynamic link to our inhouse Sales Data Warehouse reports.  For this dynamic link, I need the beginning of the link, which is static:

http://servername.maritz.com:7778/reports/rwservlet?maso&AUTHID=charts/display1&p1=

For the p1 parameter, I need it comprised of a custom field on the user object  {!User.HR_ID__c}.  HR_ID__c is a numeric custom field, but in the link, it includes the commas.  How can I remove them?

Also in the p1 parameter, I need the current date.  I tried using the code: {!TODAY()}, but it is not formatting correctly for the link (see details below).

Here is the full custom link code that I am using:

http://servername.maritz.com:7778/reports/rwservlet?maso&AUTHID=charts/display1&p1={!User.HR_ID__c}{!TODAY()}

Here is what it results in:

http://servername.maritz.com:7778/reports/rwservlet?maso&AUTHID=charts/display1&p1=150%2C2518%2F20%2F2009

I need it to be:

http://servername.maritz.com:7778/reports/rwservlet?maso&AUTHID=charts/display1&p1=15025108202009

So, 150251 for the HR ID, and 08202009 for the date.

Further, once I have this, they actually want the p1 parameter (so the 15025108202009) encrypted in a simple manner.  The HR ID is always 6 digits, so they want it mixed up a bit (e.g. putting the last 3 digits of the HR ID, then putting the year from the date, then putting the 1st 3 digits of the HR ID, then putting the 2 digit day, then the 2 digit month - so, 25120091502008).  To, do this, can I still use a custom link?  Or do I need to switch to an s-control?  Is there any kind of documentation regarding how to do something like this?  I am new to force.com development, so I'm not sure of the syntax. Thanks so much for any help.