How can I get a UTC timestamp?

[GerdW]

Hi sorin,

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@sorin1 wrote:

For example, if UTC date&time is March 26, 2020 16:50:04 (UTC), the value is 3668086204 seconds

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Like this?

[sorin1]

yes, but I need to get current date/time from PC (UTC, not local) and then converts it into seconds

[GerdW]

Hi sorin,

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@sorin1 wrote:

yes, but I need to get current date/time from PC (UTC, not local) and then converts it into seconds

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Get current time from PC and subtract offset to UTC.

You get the offset by comparing the result of the timestamp to time cluster conversion with/without UTC flag or by using the %z formatcode when converting a timestamp to a string…

[crossrulz]

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@sorin1 wrote:

yes, but I need to get current date/time from PC (UTC, not local) and then converts it into seconds

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Then just use the Get Date/Time In Seconds and convert to a DBL.  The timestamp's data is in UTC.  The display will, by default, match the system format.

[sorin1]

Please GerdW, could you post an example? thanks

[crossrulz]

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@sorin1 wrote:

Please GerdW, could you post an example? thanks

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Here's what I was saying.  The timestamp control shows the system time zone, but the data is still UTC.

[VinayKumarR]

Hi,

I extracted the following solution from here

Regards

Vinay

[billko]

Keeping your log files with UTC timestamp erases any DST ambiguities and other weirdness, like: what happens in the fall when you have two sets of data between 0100 and 0200, and in the spring when you will have a hole between 0200 and 0300?

[crossrulz]

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@billko wrote:

Keeping your log files with UTC timestamp erases any DST ambiguities and other weirdness, like: what happens in the fall when you have two sets of data between 0100 and 0200, and in the spring when you will have a hole between 0200 and 0300?

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The last system I did, I just kept the system on UTC (set time zone to UTC).  Much easier to manage then.  It also helped to synchronize with my UUT since it kept a UTC time.  I got really good at subtracting 4 or 5 hours in my head to convert to EDT or EST.