How to parse serial date in ArcGIS?

Question

I have imported a shapefile that contains a serial date number that looks like this: 41256.260799. I would like to create a new field that shows only the hour and second like this: 06:33. I've tried the available VBS and Python date functions, but nothing seems to work. Would I make my new field type text? Any help appreciated.

Answer 1

This page is a good guide if you're asking what I think you're asking.

From here, you can get the string you want fairly easily in Python using datetime:

import datetime
new_dt = datetime.datetime(1899, 12, 30) + datetime.timedelta(days=41256.260799)
formatted_string = new_dt.time().strftime("%H:%S")

That should be pretty easy to refactor into a function for the field calculator.

Answer 2

But if you just need it for a label. Use it in the label expression.