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REFERENCE

U.PARSE_DATETIME

Summary

Creates Excel datetime values from datetimes in other formats

Syntax

=U.PARSE_DATETIME(input, [format], [ignore_timezones], [ignore_topic], [return_input_if_error])

Parameters

Parameter Required Description
input Yes The value(s) to be converted into Excel datetimes
[format] No The .NET format string to be used when parsing a string into a datetime. Multiple formats can be provided as a range (column vector) and they will be tried in the order provided. Optional 2nd column can be set to TRUE to avoid brute force searching for a match, or explicitly set to FALSE to have multiple datetimes returned from a single string as a row vector
[ignore_timezones] No If set to TRUE then any timezone information detected will be ignored
[ignore_topic] No If set to TRUE then an U topic provided as an input will be parsed directly instead of the parse logic being applied to the report data associated with the topic
[return_input_if_error] No If set to TRUE then any input that cannot be parsed will be returned as is instead of an Excel #VALUE! error

Behavior

The documented public interface is supported by the current U Add-in source signature and the maintained Usage Examples workbook. Optional parameters are shown in square brackets in the syntax above; omit the brackets when entering a formula.

Return Value

Returns the function result or action status described by the formula and parameters above. The maintained sources do not define a narrower, stable return contract for this function.

Examples

=U.PARSE_DATETIME(B44)

=U.PARSE_DATETIME(B45)

=U.PARSE_DATETIME(B46)

Notes

  • Formula examples are preserved from maintained workbook usage and normalized to the current U. prefix.
  • Complete formulas demonstrate working patterns; they do not imply that undocumented option values are supported.
  • Where maintained sources do not specify every accepted value, default, or error message, this page does not infer one.
  • For functions that perform actions, use a visible trigger or supported block/throttle parameter to avoid unintended repetition during recalculation.