Create datetime object from this string?

Question

I've run into a small programming problem. I need to do some time calculations, but as an input I only have a string - so basically I'll need to convert this string to a date/time object in PHP. It's the conversion I'm having trouble with.

$endtimestamp = "September 1, 2012 13:00 PM";

$doesntwork = strtotime(trim($endtimestamp));
$doesntwork2 = date_create_from_format("l, F j, Y G:i A", $endtimestamp);
$doesntwork3 = date("l, F j, Y G:i A", strtotime($endtimestamp));

To be quite honest, I have no idea why these functions don't work as they are supposed to. SO far, other online resources have been vague at best. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

My guess is that 13:00 PM doesn't make any sense. It's either 1:00 PM or 13:00. — gen_Eric
– gen_Eric, Commented Aug 28, 2012 at 22:04
Yes, I have noticed this anomaly. Unfortunately, I have no control over the input provided. — David M
– David M, Commented Aug 28, 2012 at 22:11

zerkms · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-28 22:04:59Z

3

That happens because you have some strange l, in the beginning

If you use this format:

'F j, Y G:i A'

it works fine

answered Aug 28, 2012 at 22:04

zerkms

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gen_Eric · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-28 22:06:15Z

2

There are 2 problems here.

One is that 13:00 PM doesn't make any sense. It's either 1:00 PM or 13:00.

strtotime("September 1, 2012 13:00");

Also your format l, F j, Y G:i A doesn't match your input string.

Either the format should be: F j, Y G:i A, or the string should be Saturday, September 1, 2012 13:00 PM.

answered Aug 28, 2012 at 22:06

gen_Eric

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