MiniRobotLanguage (MRL)
TTV. Command
Time to Value
Intention
What is the difference between time and value?
A time is this: "08:37". A time is also this ""08:37:15", which includes seconds.
While this "08:37:15:2544" is also a valid time, we don't need Milliseconds here because TTV. does only work down to seconds. A value is this: "31006" which is about "07:36".
What does TTV. do?
TTV. delivers you the "number of seconds since midnight" for a specified time. It will tell you "How many seconds old your day is.
For example, you will get a "31151" as value for the "07:39:" and
a "149386" as value for the "02.01.2010", which is one day later.
What do i do with these values?
Values that represent a time, are more easy to handle. Store them in files, do calculations with them. A time is just a number with DTV. Of course you can also add or subtract seconds to / from this value.
Can i convert that number back to a time?
Yes, finally you can convert that value back to a valid date using VTT. (Value to Time).
One thing to know is, that if you specify the term "now" instead of a date, then the current time will be used. The same will happen, if you omit P1 or if you leave P1 empty.
Usage is simple:
TTV.
STS.DUMP
MBX.!
which is actual time (in seconds after midnight) as a value on TOS.
If we provide P1, the variable will be used as Source and Target, if its a variable.
Like this:
$$TIM=now
TTV.$$TIM
MBX.$$TIM
will deliver this result:below (left picture). If you leave away the first line and just write:
TTV.$$TIM
MBX.$$TIM
you will get a zero, like in the second picture. Why this?
The reason is, that undefined variables will not be resolved. In that case the script tries to get the "date-value" for $$TIM which is zero, like it is zero for any invalid (non-time) string..
' This will work as expected and return the value for "Now"
$$TIM=
TTV.|$$TIM
MBX.$$TIM
' This will do just the same (P1 = empty)
TTV.|$$TIM
MBX.$$TIM
Now we will get a value for another time. But what if we have times without the seconds?
Let us try:
' We specify only the hours
TTV.10|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
' Result is 36000
' We specify Hours and Minutes
TTV.10:00|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
' Result is 36000
' We specify the complete time
TTV.10:00:00|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
' Result is 36000
' We specify even Milliseconds
TTV.10:00:00:0000|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
As you can see in this example, the result is always the same. Missing time-informations are being treated as zero. If you omit minutes or seconds, they are zero'ed.
The Milliseconds do not play a role here and are simply ignored.
Of course we can use variables. Here is an example:
$$TIA=10
TTV.$$TIA|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
It works. The result is 36000 as expected.
' Get the time-value into variable $$TIA
$$TIA=10:00:30
TTV.$$TIA|$$TIM
' Subtract 156 Seconds
CAL.$$TIM=$$TIM-156
VTT.$$TIM|$$TIA
' Print it in the editor
DBV.$$TIA
ENR.
Important:
You do need to specify the time in the format "hh:mm:ss", but you can leave parts away from the right side. You can not leave away the hh-part.
Syntax
TTV.[P1][|P2]
Parameter Explanation
P1 - (can be omitted or empty) If omitted or empty, the
actual time (Now) is used. The result will be placed on
the TOS. The same will happen, if the term now is given,
no matter if in an variable or direct. If you specify
an variable in P1, and P2 is omitted, then the result will
be placed in that variable.
P2 - (optional) If specified, this variable will be used for the
resulting value.
Example
'**********************************************
' TTV. - Sample
'**********************************************
'
TTV.
DBV.$$000
PAU.1
TTV.
VTT.$$000
DBV.$$000
ENR.
'**********************************************
' TTV. - Sample
'**********************************************
'
TTV.now|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
VTT.$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
ENR.
'**********************************************
' TTV. - Sample
'**********************************************
'
TTV.now
VTT.$$000
DBV.$$000
ENR.
'**********************************************
' TTV. - Sample
'**********************************************
'
TTV.10:00:00|$$TIM
DBV.$$TIM
' Result is 36000
Remarks
-
Limitations:
These time-calculations depend on th current system time. If your system time is wrongly set, the command may also deliver the wrong time.
See also:
• DAT. - Date and Time Information (System independent)
• DTC. - Date and Time Calculation
• IDC. / NDC. - If Date Command
• CAL. - mathematical CALculation