MT Code - Mask Time

The MT code is used to convert time notations such as 01:40:30 or 1:30 AM to or from the internal format.

Time is stored internally as the number of seconds from midnight. The stored value can be output in the 12 hour or 24 hour (international) format.

Input Conversion

Input conversion is valid. Generally, for selection processing you should specify MT codes in attribute 7 of the data definition item.

Times can be specified with or without colon separators. If the separators are omitted, the time elements (hours, minutes and seconds) must each consist of two digits, with leading zeros if appropriate.

Syntax

MT{H}{S}

Syntax Elements

H Specifies 12-hour format. If omitted, 24-hour format is used. If included in an output conversion, the AM or PM suffix (as appropriate) is automatically appended.

S Specifies that seconds should be included.

These modifiers apply only to output conversions; they are ignored when used in an input conversion.

Comments

12:00AM is midnight and 12:00PM is noon.

For input conversions, if minutes and/or seconds are omitted they default to 0.

For input conversions, the AM and PM suffixes are ignored if the preceding time is greater than 12:59:59. For example, 13:00AM converts to the same value as 01:00PM.

Input Conversion Examples

Code	Input String	Result	Comments
MT	01:00AM	3600
MT	01:00	3600
MTH	01:00	3600	H modifier is ignored.
MT	01:00PM	46800
MT	01:00:30PM	46830
MTS	01:00:30PM	46830	S modifier is ignored.
MT	13:00	46800
MT	00:00	0
MT	12:00AM	0	Midnight.
MT	12:00PM	43200	Noon.
MT	043020	16220
MT	0430	16200
MT	4	14400

Output Conversion Examples

Code	Stored Value	Result
MT	46800	13:00
MTS	46800	13:00:00
MTS	0	00:00:00
MT	3600	01:00
MTH	3600	01:00AM
MTH	46800	01:00PM
MTHS	46800	01:00:00PM
MTHS	0	12:00:00AM