Accurate way of calculating number of minutes between two date-time variables

[Stephen Okiya]

Hi Stata users,

I am trying to calculate the difference in two time variables. Specifically the number of minutes. However, the values are extremely high thus making me doubtful of my approach

Below is example of data and code

* Example generated by -dataex-. For more info, type help dataex
clear
input double(starttime endtime)
1964773055000 1964774205000
1964184062000 1964184781000
1965543394000 1965544096000
1965543324000 1965544493000
1964778662000 1964779912000
1966582789000 1966583607000
1965335964000 1965336457000
1965557824000 1965559059000
1964725268000 1964726312000
1963784182000 1963785019000
1964453202000 1964454149000
1964773427000 1964774837000
1964756345000 1964758603000
1964855490000 1964858866000
1963816784000 1963835307000
1964460386000 1964462217000
1964464432000 1964465760000
1964109593000 1964111118000
1964598809000 1964600240000
1964772166000 1964773127000
1964861746000 1964863132000
1964773886000 1964787498000
1963829303000 1963831469000
1964692478000 1964693120000
1965889781000 1965890819000
1965458523000 1965459115000
1966130325000 1966131237000
1965544191000 1965545046000
1965542372000 1965544393000
1964698360000 1964699728000
1964801957000 1964806641000
1964781910000 1964782839000
1964778763000 1964783959000
1965545166000 1965547141000
1964771025000 1964771739000
1964851324000 1964854151000
1964748658000 1964749733000
1964454477000 1964457218000
1965575320000 1965578449000
1964773240000 1964774149000
1964700976000 1964704565000
1964264594000 1964266288000
1964919682000 1964920385000
1965489337000 1965490029000
1964760132000 1964773001000
1964378774000 1964385824000
1964772199000 1964778215000
1964452337000 1964453277000
1964349537000 1964352894000
1966077314000 1966078819000
end
format %tc starttime
format %tc endtime

gen duration = (endtime - starttime) / 60

Is there something am missing?

Thanks in advance!

[Andrew Musau]

Time differences are in milliseconds.

gen duration = (endtime - starttime) / (60*1000)

[Stephen Okiya]

Andrew Musau thanks so much for your advice. It's highly appreciated.