Timezones and V_String

Question

Hi!

I have an Excel file that downloads to CDT with no spaces (e.g. 10:30am) and need to change it to EDT.

In Excel I use this formula: =SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE([Cell],"am"," am"),"pm"," pm")+1/24

In Alteryx, I've gotten as far as using the multi-field formula tool:
REPLACE(REPLACE[COLUMN],"am"," am"),"pm"," pm")

(Example output = 9:30 am) I still need to change it to EST, but I keep getting nulls when I've tried different formulas/tools.

The type is V_String, but it doesn't work if I change the type using the Select tool either.

E.g.
Report downloads as 10:30am CDT
Need it to show 11:30 am EDT

Thanks in advance!

T_Willins · Accepted Answer

Hi @Melibau,

The difficulty you are running into is manipulating a combination of both sting and numeric data in a single field.  It may be easier to break the string into it's components using RegEx, manipulate it, then bring it back together.  The attached workflow does this and takes into consideration if am needs to be changed to pm (and vice versa) with the change in time zone.  In theory this could all be done using a single formula tool and a single formula using formulas such as Left, TrimLeft, Right, Trim Right, ToNumber, To String, and so on, it is easier to create separate fields and recombine them.  The time could also be converted to a DateTime type, add an hour, then reconvert to the desired string, but it is more complex than this workflow.