Converting Python-generated UTC time to Stata's datetime

[Max Fluegel]

Dear all,

I have the following UTC time format in a string variable and want to import it to Stata with this code:

clear
input str25 python_time float
"2020-06-01 T 13:07:04 UTC"
"2020-06-01 T 13:07:06 UTC"
end

generate stata_time = Clock(python_time, "YMD#hms#",2020)
format stata_time %tC

I get this result:

python_time    stata_time
2020-06-01 T 13:07:04 UTC    01jun2020 13:07:49
2020-06-01 T 13:07:06 UTC    01jun2020 13:07:49

Why are the seconds incorrect?

Thank you,
Max

[Andrew Musau]

Datetimes should always be stored as double. There are not enough bytes in the default storage type, float. See

help datetime

generate double stata_time = Clock(python_time, "YMD#hms#",2020)

[Max Fluegel]

Oh, I did not pay attention to the storage type.
Thank you very much Andrew.