Covert a string time variable into a numeric variable

[Nai Li]

Dear List,
I wonder if you know how I can covert a string time variable (named
call_time) formatted as hh:mm into a numeric variable named as calltim
(hh:mm)? I tried to run the following syntax, but it doesn't work.  Can
some one point me in the right direction?

DATA LIST /call_time (a5).
BEGIN DATA
14:23
12: 34
23: 01
END DATA.
STRING #time(A5).
COMPUTE #time = CONCAT(SUBSTR(call_time,1,2),':',SUBSTR(call_time,3,2)).
COMPUTE Calltim = NUMBER(#time,TIME5).
FORMATS calltim (TIME5).
EXECUTE.


Many thanks in advance.

Nai

[Norton, John]

Hi Nai,

Try the following commands:

COMPUTE new_time = TIME.HMS(NUMBER(SUBSTR(call_time,1,
        INDEX(call_time,':')-1),F2),
        NUMBER(SUBSTR(call_time,INDEX(call_time,':')+1),F2)).
EXE.
FORMATS new_time (TIME5).


I've embedded several functions within the COMPUTE statement to address the original string variable.  I hope this helps.

John Norton
SPSS Inc.


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Nai Li
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 9:32 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Covert a string time variable into a numeric variable

Dear List,
I wonder if you know how I can covert a string time variable (named
call_time) formatted as hh:mm into a numeric variable named as calltim
(hh:mm)? I tried to run the following syntax, but it doesn't work.  Can
some one point me in the right direction?

DATA LIST /call_time (a5).
BEGIN DATA
14:23
12: 34
23: 01
END DATA.
STRING #time(A5).
COMPUTE #time = CONCAT(SUBSTR(call_time,1,2),':',SUBSTR(call_time,3,2)).
COMPUTE Calltim = NUMBER(#time,TIME5).
FORMATS calltim (TIME5).
EXECUTE.


Many thanks in advance.

Nai

[Nai Li]

John,
Thanks very much for the help. The syntax works fine.

Nai


At 15:52 04/04/2007, Norton, John wrote:
>COMPUTE new_time = TIME.HMS(NUMBER(SUBSTR(call_time,1,
>         INDEX(call_time,':')-1),F2),
>         NUMBER(SUBSTR(call_time,INDEX(call_time,':')+1),F2)).
>EXE.
>FORMATS new_time (TIME5).