DT_TO_STR Procedure
Converts date/time variables to string data.
Usage
DT_TO_STR, dt_var, [, dates] [, times]
Input Parameters
dt_varDate/time variable containing one or more date/time structures.
Output Parameters
dates(optional) A variable containing the date strings extracted from the date/time variable.
times(optional) A variable containing the time strings extracted from date/time variable.
Keywords
Date_FmtSpecifies the format of the date data in the input variable. Possible values are 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, as summarized in Table 5-11: Values for Date_Fmt:
 
Values for Date_Fmt
Value
Format Description
Examples for May 1, 1992
1
MM*DD*YYYY
05/01/1992
2
DD*MM*YYYY
01-05-1992
3
ddd*YYYY
122,1992
4
DD*mmm[mmmmmm]*YYYY
01/May/1992
5
YYYY*MM*DD
1992-05-01
where the asterisk (*) represents one of the following separators: dash (–), slash (/), comma (,), period (.), or colon (:).
Time_FmtSpecifies the format of the time portion of the data in the input variable. Possible values are –1 or –2, as summarized in Table 5-12: Values for Time_Fmt:
 
Values for Time_Fmt
Value
Format Description
Examples for 1:30 p.m.
–1
HH*Mn*SS.sss
13:30:35.25
–2
HHMn
1330
where the asterisk (*) represents one of the following separators: dash (–), slash (/), comma (,), or colon (:). No separators are allowed between hours and minutes for the –2 format. Both hours and minutes must occupy two spaces.
Date and time separators are specified with the !Date_Separator and !Time_Separator system variables. It is possible to use any character or string as a separator with the DT_TO_STR function; however, if you use a non-standard separator (one other than dash (–), slash (/), comma (,), period (.), or colon (:)), you will be unable to convert the data back to a date/time variable with STR_TO_DT. If Either of these system variables is set to an empty string, then you receive a default separator.
You must specify a date and/or time format if the dates and/or times parameters are specified.
Examples
Assume you have a date/time variable named date1 that contains the following date/time structures:
date1=[{!dt, 1992,3,13,1,10,34.0000,87474.049,0}, $
       {!dt, 1983,4,20,16,18,30.0000,84224.680,0}, $
       {!dt, 1964,4,24,5,7,25.0000,77289.213,0}]
; To convert to string data, use the DT_TO_STR procedure.
; Convert date/time data. Store the date data in d and
; the time data in t.
DT_TO_STR, date1, d, t, Date_Fmt=1, Time_Fmt=-1
PRINT, d
; PV-WAVE prints: 3/13/1992 4/20/1983 4/24/1964
PRINT, t
; PV-WAVE prints: 01:10:34.000 16:18:30.000 05:07:25.000
See Also
System Variables:  !Date_Separator  !Time_Separator
For more information on date/time, see the PV‑WAVE User’s Guide.