Date and Time Parse Patterns

Dates are one of the primitive data types used in Datameer. However, it is often necessary (during data imports and exports as well as when working with certain functions) to convert a date represented as a string to a form that is recognized as a date by Datameer. This is done by parsing the pattern so that it can be correctly interpreted. Use the table below to define the parse pattern.

Parse Patterns

Examples

From string to date

In a workbook, a column that is of a string type can be changed to a date by using the function ASDATE.

For time zones

Parse patterns for time zones going from string to date.

The time displayed is converted to the local time set in the system preferences where Datameer is running.

From date to string

In a workbook, a column that is of a date type can be changed to a string by using the function FORMATDATE 

For time zones

Parse patterns for time zones going from date to string.

The time zone displayed is the local timezone set in the system preferences where Datameer is running.

Parse Pattern Details

Keep in mind the following information about parse patterns in Datameer:

• In Datameer a date always includes a time. If the date you are using does not include a time, then 00:00:00 is added by default.
• If the date and time string includes characters which are not defined above, use single quotes, e.g. '<characters>', around these characters when parsing.
• If a pattern can result in a single digit, such for the following values:
  • Week in year
  • Day in year
  • Day in week
  • Day in month
  • Hour in am/pm
  • Hour in day
  • Minute in hour
  • Second in minute
  • Millisecond
  Then more significant digits or leading zeros can be added before the number if applicable by doubling or tripling the letter marker. For example, if it is January 3 and you looking for the day in the year, D returns 3, DD returns 03, and DDD returns 003. However, using D, DD, or DDD on the 300th day of the year all return 300.
• When parsing from a string to a date, Monday (or Mon) and July (or Jul) can be represented by EEE and MMM, respectively. However when parsing from a date to a string, EEE returns "Mon" whereas EEEE returns "Monday". MMM returns "Jul" and MMMM returns "July".
• When parsing the abbreviated year pattern ("y" or "yy"), the SimpleDateFormat must be interpreted relative to a century. This is accomplished by assuming the dates to be within 80 years before and 20 years after the point in time when a specific SimpleDateFormat instance was created. For example, using the pattern "MM/dd/yy" and a SimpleDateFormat instance created on Jan 1, 1997, the string "01/11/12" is interpreted as Jan 11, 2012 while the string "05/04/64" is interpreted as May 4, 1964.
• Note that Datameer uses Joda Time for Dates.
• Parquet files using the INT96 format are interpreted as time stamps. Datameer accepts those columns, but cuts off the nanoseconds.