Returns the time difference between a given start and end time. The end time must be the same as or later than the start time.

Format

F$DELTA_TIME (start-time,end-time,format)

Return Value

Argument

start-time

Absolute time expression of the start time in the following format:

dd-mmm-yyyy hh:mm:ss.cc

end-time

Absolute time expression of the end time in the following format:

dd-mmm-yyyy hh:mm:ss.cc

format

Format for delta time return value. The keywords are as follows:

• ASCTIM: ASCII time format
• DCL: DCL delta time format This format can be used as an input to other DCL time-related lexicals and commands.

Example

$ START=F$TIME() 
$ END=F$TIME() 
$ SHOW SYMBOL START  
 START = "15-JUL-2003 16:26:35.77" 
$ SHOW SYMBOL END 
 END = "15-JUL-2003 16:26:41.39" 
$ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT F$DELTA_TIME(START,END) 
 0 00:00:05.62 
 
      

This example uses the F$TIME() lexical function to define a symbol for the start time and end time. It then uses F$DELTA_TIME to display the time difference between the start and end time.

 $  WRITE SYS$OUTPUT F$DELTA_TIME(START,END,"DCL")
0-00:00:11.91
$  WRITE SYS$OUTPUT F$DELTA_TIME(START,END,"ASCTIM")
   0 00:00:11.91
      

This example returns the delta between the start and end time in DCL and ASCII formats.

 WRITE SYS$OUTPUT F$DELTA_TIME ("BOOT", "LOGIN") 
   0 10:24:18.92 
$ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT F$DELTA_TIME ("BOOT", "LOGIN", "DCL") 
0-10:24:18.92 
$ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT F$DELTA_TIME ("BOOT", "LOGIN", "ASCTIM") 
   0 10:24:18.92 
      

This example returns the delta between the boot and login time in DCL and ASCII formats.