This function parses a text a using template b and creates a timestamp from it.

An optional locale d can modify the parsing behaviour for month names and day names.

Parameters

Parameter	Description
a	The text to be interpreted. If a string cannot be interpreted with the format template b, an error occurs and parameter c controls the further behaviour of the function.
b	Format template. Important note: If the string in a is shorter than the template in b, b is shortened to the length of a. Please note that in rare cases this can lead to loss of accuracy or invalid values and consequential errors. Special case W3CDTF: This format template does not consist of placeholders. Therefore, no shortening is done. The format does not contain month names or day names. Therefore, no locale is used (parameter d).
c	(optional) Behaviour of function in case a text cannot be parsed as a date. Possible values see below. See also parameter a. Default: "empty".
d	(optional) Locale. Default: System locale. Example: "de_DE". Note: Use the three dots to select a value.
e	(optional) Timezone. Default: System timezone. Example: "UTC".

Possible values for parameter "c"

Value	Behaviour of function
now	The current date will be returned.
empty	The Empty Flag is set. Internally, the field also receives the current date. However, because of the Empty Flag, the value is not visible.
error	The function terminates with an error.
Other value	Instead of the input value, this value will be used. If this value cannot be parsed with b either, the function will terminate with an error.

Examples

Current date of the example: "2011-10-20 15:33:23".

The system has the timezone "Europe/Berlin".

Note: "No date" cannot be interpreted as a timestamp with any format template b and thus triggers an error. The further behaviour of the function is then controlled with parameter c.

Parameter a	b	c	d	e	Result	Result of function "get empty flag()"
241205	ddMMyyHHmm	error			2005-12-24 00:00:00.0	false
No date	ddMMyyHHmm	error			The function terminates with an error.
No date	ddMMyyHHmm	now			2011-10-20 15:33:23.0	false
No date	ddMMyyHHmm	empty			See description of "empty" for parameter c above.	true
No date	ddMMyyHHmm	231010			2010-10-23 00:00:00.0	false
2412050820	ddMMyyHHmm	error			2005-12-24 08:20:00.0	false
9-дек-2012	d-MMM-yyyy	empty	ru		2012-12-09 00:00:00.0	false
10.Dez 2012	dd.MMM yyyy	empty	de_DE		2012-12-10 00:00:00.0	false
1997-07-16T19:20:30Z (see format template "W3CDTF")	W3C	now			1997-07-16 21:20:30.0	false
31.03.2024 02:30:00	dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss				The current date with set Empty Flag.	true
31.03.2024 02:30:00	dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss			UTC	2024-03-31 04:30:00.0	false