Python > format dates > 30 Apr 2020 to epoch time

Does Python date function support formatting 30 Apr 2020 to epoch time?

• I Googled it and don't think so.
• If not I will write my own function.

Thanks

 

I don't trust Google...

Here are top 3 from a diff engine...

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11743019/convert-python-datetime-to-epoch-with-strftime

https://www.mydatahack.com/how-to-convert-non-utc-timestamp-into-unix-epoch-time-in-python/

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/How-to-convert-Python-datetime-to-epoch-with-strftime

 

Input has to be 30 Apr 2020

I don't think Python's date function can handle converting Jan,Feb,Apr,May,etc to the corresponding month: 01,02,03,04,etc

That's why I think I have to create my own function.

 

I’m certain that it can be done; can take a look later. If not, quickly move your data to R, where I know it can be done.

 

https://mkaz.blog/code/python-dates/

This is not difficult or obscure.

 

• Your link is no good - it doesn't have a solution.
  
• It looks like Python's datetime function can't do it, as I suspected.
• So I will be writing my own function.

 

I'm not going to do the work for you.

https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html

You googled and couldn't find the documentation? Look at the bottom for formats.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have decided to create my own function. This is what I have:

• Input: 26 Feb 2020
  
• Output: 2020-02-26
• The final step to epoch time will be added later.

Python code

Code:

def dateFormat(input):
   array = input.split()

   months={'Jan':'01','Feb':'02','Mar':'03','Apr':'04','May':'05','Jun':'06',
   'Jul':'07','Aug':'08','Sep':'09','Sept':'09','Oct':'10','Nov':'11','Dec':'12'}

   day,month,year = array[0],array[1],array[2]
   month = (months[month])

   print(year + "-" + month + "-" + day)

dateFormat('26 Feb 2020')

 

Python can do this in one line: (okay 3 if you count the import and the function header)

Code:

import datetime
def dateFormat(date_string):
    return datetime.datetime.strptime(date_string,"%d %b %Y").strftime("%Y-%m-%d")

This is helpful https://strftime.org


Epoch time, to be fair, is a bit trickier, but not much:

Code:

def epochTime(date_string):
    dt = datetime.datetime.strptime(date_string,"%d %b %Y")

    # there are ways of getting this rather than hard coding if you're bothered
    epoch = datetime.datetime(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0)
    return (dt-epoch).total_seconds()

epochTime("26 Feb 2020")

I'm guessing you're relatively new to python. It often seems quicker to write your own stuff rather than spend a few minutes working out if someone already thought of this, but in the long run definitely better to use built in functions.

GAT

 

time.mktime(time.strptime(YOURDT, DTFORMAT))