parsing text field

[Joseph Farr]

I have a text field that looks like this:

,Time: 2/26/2023 8:22:29 PM,Station: Buffing Queue,Time: 2/26/2023 8:22:34 PM,Station: Sanding Queue,Time: 2/26/2023 8:22:35 PM,Station: Saw Queue,Time: 2/26/2023 8:22:36 PM,Station: Buffing Queue

any tips on how I parse this and pull out each time?  and calculate how much time has passed between stations?

Thankyou kindly!

[comment]

The field starts with a comma? Are you sure - and if so, does it always?

 

[Joseph Farr]

Yes it does.

[comment]

Well, that's not a very convenient format to work with. You'd think in 2023 people would come up with something more standard...

Anyway, here's something I've cobbled together very quickly (it's easier to do than to explain how to).

Important: the script depends on the file being set to use US date and time formats. Generally, this is bad practice and should be replaced by parsing out the individual date and time components. But as long as you stay within this limitation, it should work for you.

 

parser.fmp12

[Joseph Farr]

Awesome!  thanks kindly!