topic Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use in LabVIEW

How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Paul J S — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:30:25 GMT

I'm writing an Labview application in which I would like to convert pull time stamp infor from Time Stamp VI and convert to string so I can use to append as part of filename.

The fomat that I want may look something like basefilename081208_1300. This would represent a file name that has elements consisting of the date 08/12/08 and 13:00 hours zulu.

Paul

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Robst — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:39:33 GMT

Hello:

Use the Format Date/Time String VI, and use as the format string the following: %d%m%y_%H%M

This way you'll get the date string you want.

Then concatenate the output to other strings you need to name your file.

I've attached an screenshot.

Hope this helps.

Robst.

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

TCPlomp — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:12:27 GMT

One advice, if you go for a filename with the timestamp in it, you might want to sort the files later on.

So a style of year-month-day-hour-minute-second might be more suitable.

In the function shown by Rob you can include the basefilename as well.

Ton

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

ewjammer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:39:35 GMT

I got the formatting part.

How then to make the string into a file path for saving data to a file?

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

ewjammer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:09:46 GMT

I found it after a long time searching... I should use "string to path."

Sorry for the interruption.

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Stergios — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:29:03 GMT

This thread has been very helpful, solved me 2 big "HOW-TO" questions! Thank you!

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

ewjammer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:11:47 GMT

Attached is a screen shot of a more complete picture.

Also attached is the complete VI. This is my first try at attaching a VI. Hope it works.

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Stergios — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:37:07 GMT

unfortunately, i have 8.5 in my university, so i cannot load any VI made in 8.6! Thank you for the photo though, it has been very helpful!

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

ewjammer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:49:12 GMT

I saved it as LabView 8.5.

See attached.

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Stergios — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:36:59 GMT

Thank you Ewjammer!

It works like a charm!

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

GerdW — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:14:11 GMT

Hi ewjammer & Stergios,

strong advice: please use "build path" and "strip path" from the file functions palette when dealing with filenames and path.

Using string functions is not entirely wrong, but will lead to errors the sooner or the later...

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Mark_Yedinak — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:11:17 GMT

GerdW wrote:
Hi ewjammer & Stergios,

strong advice: please use "build path" and "strip path" from the file functions palette when dealing with filenames and path.
Using string functions is not entirely wrong, but will lead to errors the sooner or the later...

To further clarify the "buld path" and "strip path" VIs have support for all the various formats across different platforms. Using them ensures your code is portable. The string functions can be used but as stated above you may run into problems with different file and path name formats. This includes fully qualified paths on a network.

Re: How to Convert Time Stamp to String for Filename use

Stergios — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:50:22 GMT

Thank you Gerd and Mark!