Reformatting existing data in time field

[Sergeant Ron]

I have about 60,000 records in a database that have a time field that i need reformatted. The problem I need to rectify is that even though the fields in question are already time fields they have been set to "leave data formatted as entered". What I need is for the format to be HH:MM. Can anyone suggest a simple way of inserting the : into the existing data fields via script or calculation. Im drawing a blank here. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ron

[mz123]

It depends on how the times are formatted now...

Is there anyway you could send part of your file?

I'm thinking you can do something like:

Left(TimeField; 2) & ":" & Middle(TimeField; 3; 2) but I'd have to see the formatting of the data.

Either way, I would recommend setting up a calculation field for testing to see waht the result would be, and then you can use Replace Field Contents to clean up the actual Time field.

[comment]

This doesn't make much sense, I'm afraid. If the field is a time field, and the entry is valid time, you can format the display by entering Layout mode, selecting the field, and choosing Format > Time... from the menu.

If this doesn't help, then the entry is not valid time and the problem is not how to format it - but how to turn it into a valid entry.

[Sergeant Ron]

I was actually looking for the Left / middle function. I was totally having a brain fart. Thanks guys. Got it.