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I'm using QGIS 2.16.3 and attempting to convert a number of datetime fields that are appearing in the incorrect default GMT +0 timezone. I would like to add, for example, 10 hours to accurately reflect the time zone of data collection.

So far I've attempted using the field calculator:

"Date_Field" +   ('10:00:00')

which just adds a string to the end (i.e. '2017-4-06 14:00:001')

I've also tried:

( "Date_Field") + to_time('10:00:00')
( "Date_Field") + to_datetime('10:00:00')  
to_datetime( "Date_Field") + to_datetime('10:00:00')

which gives me an error "Cannot convert '2017-04-06 14:00:00' to double", although I am able to convert the datetime field alone.

This seems like a simple, common operation for anyone working with different time zones. My only workaround is to create a CSV and edit the fields in a spreadsheet.

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  • How are you storing this information? Is your underlying DB compatible with timestamps or is the information simply kept as a string?
    – fabio.avigo
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 12:51
  • This can also help.
    – fabio.avigo
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 12:59
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    How about to_datetime("Date_Field") + to_interval('10 hours') ?
    – Kazuhito
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 13:08
  • I'm using a shapefile exported from a proprietary database but compatible with timestamps. When I created a new string field with to_datetime( "Date_Field" ) I am able to use Time Manager on that field but not do any calculation.
    – nickislander
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 13:24
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    Thanks @Kazuhito , to_interval successfully added 10 hours!
    – nickislander
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 13:27

1 Answer 1

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Expression to_datetime("Date_Field") + to_interval('10 hours') will add 10 hours to the "Date_Field".

I have not tested fully, but it seems to_interval() accepts month(s) day(s) hour(s) and their combinations such as '1 day 2 hours'.

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    Thanks @Kazuhito , this worked perfectly. It also accepted the combination '10 hours 01 minutes'
    – nickislander
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 15:14
  • @nickislander I am glad it worked. Thanks for the minutes tip, too.
    – Kazuhito
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 16:24
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    Bravo @Kazuhito! A follow-up thought: If daylight savings time shifted during the period that the original data was collected (say the offset changed from -8 to -7), then the user would need to apply the expression twice - once for just those records in the -8 period, then a second calculation for the -7 period records. I have not tested, but this seems reasonable.
    – Stu Smith
    Commented Sep 18, 2018 at 18:01
  • Thanks @StuSmith. I agree with you. Perhaps keeping all of "UTC", "UTC-8h", "UTC-7h" fields in the attribute table will be helpful (and self-explanatory). Both time zones and DST time-shift are quite error-prone.
    – Kazuhito
    Commented Sep 18, 2018 at 20:09

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