Converting a date Gui to a useable format

[Zaxon]

In every programming language I've used there is a common format that can be used by your date functions, and used in date calculations. Usually, it's the number of seconds since epoch.

Perhaps the commonest date format I've seen in AutoIt that is used in calcs is "YYYY/MM/DD[ HH:MM:SS]", and that's fine.

The _DateTimeFormat converts from that to other formats, but I'm yet to find a function that converts TO YYYY/MM/DD[ HH:MM:SS].

In particular, when a user enters a date or time via a GUICtrlCreateDate control, when you read it back it's in a non standard format - basically however your region date/time settings are configured. I need to convert from regional time back to the YYYY/MM/DD[ HH:MM:SS] for calcs. But, unless I'm overlooking it, there doesn't appear to be a function for doing this.

So short of manually pulling apart the region time (and writing a script that only works if it's on your computer or one set up identically), how do we convert from regional time to YYYY/MM/DD[ HH:MM:SS] format?

[zcoacoaz]

using StringLeft and StringTrimLeft

[Zaxon]

using StringLeft and StringTrimLeft

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That only divides the string into two. It doesn't take into account 12hr->24hr conversion, plus the different region setting which you cannot predict about the computing on which it's running. Although come to think of it, LOCALE_STIMEFORMAT etc may be fixed formats, although the help is vague saying produces a result like "blah", suggestion that the region settings of your PC may influence the way the date gui works.

There should be an inbuilt function that handles this extremely common conversion.

[Insolence]

There are many date functions, I don't really know what you're talking about honestly (not your fault, just never deal with Date/Time)

I DID make an Alarm Clock recently however, I used _NowTime(), which returns the HH:MM:SS, and there's probably a _NowDate() that returns what you want.

[Zaxon]

There are many date functions, I don't really know what you're talking about honestly (not your fault, just never deal with Date/Time)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I forgive you.

I DID make an Alarm Clock recently however, I used _NowTime(), which returns the HH:MM:SS, and there's probably a _NowDate() that returns what you want.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, the now() functions play nicely, returning time in the proper format. But you can ask a user to select a date and time of their choosing, a bit like when you click on the windows clock in the bottom right hand corner of the system tray, and get a graphical calandar. So you my ask the user, "select the date and time of your next blah blah", and you'll get back a date or time, but in a different format.

We need to know the following:

* is the an inbuilt string to convert that to the calc format?

* I can certainly build one myself, but I hate to have to reinvent the wheel for something that absolutely should be able to be done already

* If I have to "role my own", I already know the date & time formats returned by the dategui WILL vary, according to how your personal regional settings are setup on your PC. That spells trouble for compatibility

[CyberSlug]

; This might help a little

;;; http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....m_setformat.asp

;;; http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....tp_format_chars

;;; Goal is YYYY/MM/DD[ HH:MM:SS]

#include <GUIConstants.au3>

GUICreate ( "My GUI get date", 200,200,800,200)

$date = GUICtrlCreateDate ("1953/04/25", 10,10,185,20 )

$style = "yyyy'/'MM'/'dd HH':'mm':'s"

GuiCtrlSendMsg($date, 0x1005, 0, $style)

GuiSetState()

While GuiGetMsg() <> $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE

WEnd

MsgBox(0,"Date",GUICtrlRead($date))

Time zone info can probably be gained from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation

[Zaxon]

; This might help a little

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Perfect! I was able to completely override my region settings and force the calc standard.

Many thanks CyberSlug.