Get time as a string

HarryBoy · 07-31-2008, 11:25 AM

I need a C++ function that returns the current time as a string. I put together the below function. It works but I would like to learn how I could do it 'better'! Is there anything wrong with the way that I am doing it? could you guys suggest a better way of doing it?

in header file

Code:

std::string GetTime();

in cpp file

Code:

std::string Test::GetTime()
{
    string sTime;
    char time[10];
    struct timeval tv;
    
    time_t curtime;  
    gettimeofday(&tv, NULL); 
    curtime=tv.tv_sec;
    
    //Format time
    strftime(time,10,"%T",localtime(&curtime));
    sTime = time;
 
    return sTime;
}

cmnorton · 07-31-2008, 12:30 PM

Take a spin through STD or RTL, and see what is already available. I have to believe there is already a class available from which you can derive the time format you want.

dmail · 07-31-2008, 01:14 PM

Maybe

Code:

std::string Test::GetTime()
{
    time_t t;
    time ( &t );
    return std::string( asctime ( localtime ( &t ) ) );
}

rogx · 08-01-2008, 01:34 AM

This is plain C, but I think You can use it in Your C++ program:

Code:

// gcc -Wall -o mytime mytime.c

#include <time.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

int main()
  {
  struct tm *Btime;
  time_t mytime1;

  char mydata[30];
  char tmpstr[30];

  mytime1=time(NULL);
  Btime=localtime(&mytime1);

  sprintf(tmpstr,"%4d", (Btime->tm_year+1900)); strcpy(mydata,tmpstr); strcat(mydata,"/");
  sprintf(tmpstr,"%02d",(Btime->tm_mon+1));     strcat(mydata,tmpstr); strcat(mydata,"/");
  sprintf(tmpstr,"%02d", Btime->tm_mday);       strcat(mydata,tmpstr); strcat(mydata,"  ");

  sprintf(tmpstr,"%02d", Btime->tm_hour);       strcat(mydata,tmpstr); strcat(mydata,":");
  sprintf(tmpstr,"%02d", Btime->tm_min);        strcat(mydata,tmpstr); strcat(mydata,":");
  sprintf(tmpstr,"%02d", Btime->tm_sec);        strcat(mydata,tmpstr);

  printf("\ntime: %s\n\n", mydata);
  
  return(0);
  }

Output:

Code:

~$ gcc -Wall -o mytime mytime.c
~$ ./mytime

time: 2008/08/01  08:36:48

~$

With this type of code You can format the date/time string as You prefer.

Bye, Rogx.