Minute Function

Returns a Variant (Integer) specifying a whole number between 0 and 59, inclusive, representing the minute of the hour.

Syntax

Minute(time)

Parameters

time (Required): Any Variant, numeric expression, string expression, or combination that can represent a time
Can be a Date literal, Date variable, or numeric expression
String must be recognizable as a date/time
If Null, returns Null
If invalid date/time, error 13 (Type mismatch)

Return Value

Returns a Variant (Integer): - Whole number from 0 to 59 - Represents the minute component of the time - 0 = first minute of the hour (00:00-00:00:59) - 59 = last minute of the hour (XX:59:00-XX:59:59) - Returns Null if input is Null - Independent of date component (only extracts minute)

Remarks

The Minute function extracts the minute from a time value:

Returns Integer: Value is always between 0 and 59
Time component only: Ignores date portion of Date values
Null propagation: Returns Null if input is Null
Type mismatch: Error 13 if input cannot be converted to date/time
Various formats: Accepts Date, String, or numeric time values
24-hour time: Works with both 12-hour and 24-hour formats
Common use: Extract minute for time calculations, formatting, validation
Related functions: Hour (hour component), Second (second component), TimeSerial (create time)
Part of suite: Day, Month, Year for dates; Hour, Minute, Second for times
Performance: Fast operation, optimized in VB6
Available in: All VB versions, VBA, VBScript

Typical Uses

Extract Minute from Time

currentMinute = Minute(Now)

Format Time Display

timeText = Hour(Now) & ":" & Format(Minute(Now), "00")

Validate Time Range

If Minute(appointmentTime) < 30 Then
' First half of the hour
End If

Round to Nearest Hour

If Minute(timeValue) >= 30 Then
roundedHour = Hour(timeValue) + 1
Else
roundedHour = Hour(timeValue)
End If

Time Calculations

minutesPastHour = Minute(Time)
minutesUntilHour = 60 - Minute(Time)

Validate Appointment Times

If Minute(startTime) Mod 15 <> 0 Then
MsgBox "Appointments must start on 15-minute intervals"
End If

Build Time String

timeStr = Format(Hour(t), "00") & ":" & Format(Minute(t), "00")

Calculate Duration

durationMinutes = (Hour(endTime) - Hour(startTime)) * 60 + _
(Minute(endTime) - Minute(startTime))

Basic Examples

Example 1: Basic Usage

Dim currentMinute As Integer
Dim timeValue As Date

' Get current minute
currentMinute = Minute(Now)        ' Returns 0-59

' Extract minute from specific time
timeValue = #2:45:30 PM#
currentMinute = Minute(timeValue)  ' Returns 45

' Extract minute from time string
currentMinute = Minute("3:27 PM")  ' Returns 27

' Extract minute from numeric value
currentMinute = Minute(0.5)        ' Returns 0 (noon = 12:00)
currentMinute = Minute(0.75)       ' Returns 0 (6 PM = 18:00)

Example 2: Digital Clock Display

Sub UpdateClock()
Dim h As Integer
Dim m As Integer
Dim s As Integer
Dim currentTime As Date

currentTime = Now

h = Hour(currentTime)
m = Minute(currentTime)
s = Second(currentTime)

' Display in 24-hour format
lblClock.Caption = Format(h, "00") & ":" & _
Format(m, "00") & ":" & _
Format(s, "00")

' Display in 12-hour format
Dim ampm As String
Dim h12 As Integer

If h >= 12 Then
ampm = "PM"
h12 = IIf(h = 12, 12, h - 12)
Else
ampm = "AM"
h12 = IIf(h = 0, 12, h)
End If

lblClock12.Caption = h12 & ":" & Format(m, "00") & " " & ampm
End Sub

Example 3: Appointment Scheduler Validation

Function ValidateAppointmentTime(ByVal appointmentTime As Date) As Boolean
Dim m As Integer

m = Minute(appointmentTime)

' Check if time is on a 15-minute interval
If m Mod 15 = 0 Then
ValidateAppointmentTime = True
Else
MsgBox "Appointments must start on 15-minute intervals" & vbCrLf & _
"Valid minutes: 00, 15, 30, 45", _
vbExclamation, "Invalid Time"
ValidateAppointmentTime = False
End If
End Function

' Usage:
' If ValidateAppointmentTime(#2:15 PM#) Then  ' Valid
' If ValidateAppointmentTime(#2:23 PM#) Then  ' Invalid

Example 4: Time Rounding

Function RoundToNearestQuarterHour(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Date
Dim h As Integer
Dim m As Integer
Dim roundedMinute As Integer

h = Hour(timeValue)
m = Minute(timeValue)

' Round to nearest 15 minutes
Select Case m
Case 0 To 7
roundedMinute = 0
Case 8 To 22
roundedMinute = 15
Case 23 To 37
roundedMinute = 30
Case 38 To 52
roundedMinute = 45
Case 53 To 59
roundedMinute = 0
h = h + 1
If h = 24 Then h = 0
End Select

RoundToNearestQuarterHour = TimeSerial(h, roundedMinute, 0)
End Function

' Usage:
' rounded = RoundToNearestQuarterHour(#2:23 PM#)  ' Returns #2:30 PM#
' rounded = RoundToNearestQuarterHour(#2:57 PM#)  ' Returns #3:00 PM#

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: `SafeMinute` (handle Null)

Function SafeMinute(ByVal timeValue As Variant) As Integer
If IsNull(timeValue) Then
SafeMinute = 0
ElseIf Not IsDate(timeValue) Then
SafeMinute = 0
Else
SafeMinute = Minute(timeValue)
End If
End Function

Pattern 2: `IsTopOfHour`

Function IsTopOfHour(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Boolean
IsTopOfHour = (Minute(timeValue) = 0 And Second(timeValue) = 0)
End Function

Pattern 3: `GetMinutesPastHour`

Function GetMinutesPastHour(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Integer
GetMinutesPastHour = Minute(timeValue)
End Function

Pattern 4: `GetMinutesUntilNextHour`

Function GetMinutesUntilNextHour(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Integer
Dim m As Integer
m = Minute(timeValue)

If m = 0 And Second(timeValue) = 0 Then
GetMinutesUntilNextHour = 60
Else
GetMinutesUntilNextHour = 60 - m
If Second(timeValue) > 0 Then
GetMinutesUntilNextHour = GetMinutesUntilNextHour - 1
End If
End If
End Function

Pattern 5: `FormatMinute`

Function FormatMinute(ByVal timeValue As Date) As String
FormatMinute = Format(Minute(timeValue), "00")
End Function

Pattern 6: `IsQuarterHour`

Function IsQuarterHour(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Boolean
IsQuarterHour = (Minute(timeValue) Mod 15 = 0)
End Function

Pattern 7: `GetQuarterHourIndex`

Function GetQuarterHourIndex(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Integer
' Returns 0-3 for which quarter hour (0=:00, 1=:15, 2=:30, 3=:45)
GetQuarterHourIndex = Minute(timeValue) \ 15
End Function

Pattern 8: `IsHalfHour`

Function IsHalfHour(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Boolean
IsHalfHour = (Minute(timeValue) = 0 Or Minute(timeValue) = 30)
End Function

Pattern 9: `CompareMinutes`

Function CompareMinutes(ByVal time1 As Date, ByVal time2 As Date) As Integer
CompareMinutes = Minute(time1) - Minute(time2)
End Function

Pattern 10: `MinutesSinceMidnight`

Function MinutesSinceMidnight(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Long
MinutesSinceMidnight = Hour(timeValue) * 60 + Minute(timeValue)
End Function

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Time Slot Scheduler

' Class: TimeSlotScheduler
Private m_slotDuration As Integer  ' Minutes per slot
Private m_slots As Collection

Private Sub Class_Initialize()
m_slotDuration = 30  ' Default 30-minute slots
Set m_slots = New Collection
End Sub

Public Property Let SlotDuration(ByVal minutes As Integer)
If minutes > 0 And minutes <= 60 And (60 Mod minutes = 0) Then
m_slotDuration = minutes
Else
Err.Raise 5, , "Slot duration must evenly divide 60 (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 60)"
End If
End Property

Public Function GetSlotIndex(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Integer
Dim totalMinutes As Long
totalMinutes = Hour(timeValue) * 60 + Minute(timeValue)
GetSlotIndex = totalMinutes \ m_slotDuration
End Function

Public Function GetSlotStartTime(ByVal slotIndex As Integer) As Date
Dim totalMinutes As Long
Dim h As Integer
Dim m As Integer

totalMinutes = slotIndex * m_slotDuration
h = totalMinutes \ 60
m = totalMinutes Mod 60

GetSlotStartTime = TimeSerial(h, m, 0)
End Function

Public Function IsSlotAvailable(ByVal slotIndex As Integer) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
Dim temp As Variant
temp = m_slots(CStr(slotIndex))
IsSlotAvailable = (Err.Number <> 0)
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Public Sub BookSlot(ByVal slotIndex As Integer, ByVal description As String)
If IsSlotAvailable(slotIndex) Then
m_slots.Add description, CStr(slotIndex)
Else
Err.Raise 5, , "Slot already booked"
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetSlotsInHour(ByVal hour As Integer) As Integer
GetSlotsInHour = 60 \ m_slotDuration
End Function

Example 2: Timesheet Entry Validator

' Class: TimesheetValidator
Private m_roundingInterval As Integer

Private Sub Class_Initialize()
m_roundingInterval = 15  ' Default to 15-minute intervals
End Sub

Public Property Let RoundingInterval(ByVal minutes As Integer)
Select Case minutes
Case 1, 5, 10, 15, 30
m_roundingInterval = minutes
Case Else
Err.Raise 5, , "Invalid rounding interval"
End Select
End Property

Public Function ValidateTime(ByVal timeValue As Date) As Boolean
Dim m As Integer
m = Minute(timeValue)
ValidateTime = (m Mod m_roundingInterval = 0)
End Function

Public Function RoundTime(ByVal timeValue As Date, _
Optional ByVal roundUp As Boolean = False) As Date
Dim h As Integer
Dim m As Integer
Dim s As Integer
Dim roundedMinute As Integer

h = Hour(timeValue)
m = Minute(timeValue)
s = Second(timeValue)

If roundUp Then
' Round up to next interval
roundedMinute = ((m \ m_roundingInterval) + 1) * m_roundingInterval
If roundedMinute >= 60 Then
roundedMinute = 0
h = h + 1
If h = 24 Then h = 0
End If
Else
' Round to nearest interval
Dim remainder As Integer
remainder = m Mod m_roundingInterval

If remainder >= (m_roundingInterval \ 2) Or s > 0 Then
roundedMinute = m - remainder + m_roundingInterval
If roundedMinute >= 60 Then
roundedMinute = 0
h = h + 1
If h = 24 Then h = 0
End If
Else
roundedMinute = m - remainder
End If
End If

RoundTime = TimeSerial(h, roundedMinute, 0)
End Function

Public Function GetTimesheetString(ByVal timeValue As Date) As String
GetTimesheetString = Format(Hour(timeValue), "00") & ":" & _
Format(Minute(timeValue), "00")
End Function

Example 3: Meeting Reminder System

' Module: MeetingReminders

Public Function CheckReminders() As Collection
Dim reminders As New Collection
Dim currentTime As Date
Dim currentMinute As Integer

currentTime = Now
currentMinute = Minute(currentTime)

' Check for hourly reminder (at :00)
If currentMinute = 0 Then
reminders.Add "Top of the hour reminder"
End If

' Check for quarter-hour reminders
If currentMinute Mod 15 = 0 Then
reminders.Add "Quarter hour: " & Format(currentTime, "h:mm AM/PM")
End If

' Check for upcoming meeting (5 minutes before)
If currentMinute Mod 60 = 25 Or currentMinute Mod 60 = 55 Then
reminders.Add "Meeting in 5 minutes"
End If

Set CheckReminders = reminders
End Function

Public Function GetNextQuarterHour(ByVal fromTime As Date) As Date
Dim h As Integer
Dim m As Integer
Dim nextMinute As Integer

h = Hour(fromTime)
m = Minute(fromTime)

' Calculate next quarter hour
nextMinute = ((m \ 15) + 1) * 15

If nextMinute >= 60 Then
nextMinute = 0
h = h + 1
If h = 24 Then h = 0
End If

GetNextQuarterHour = TimeSerial(h, nextMinute, 0)
End Function

Public Function MinutesUntilQuarterHour(ByVal fromTime As Date) As Integer
Dim m As Integer
Dim remainder As Integer

m = Minute(fromTime)
remainder = m Mod 15

If remainder = 0 Then
MinutesUntilQuarterHour = 15
Else
MinutesUntilQuarterHour = 15 - remainder
End If
End Function

Example 4: Bus Schedule Matcher

' Class: BusSchedule
Private m_departureMinutes() As Integer
Private m_routeName As String

Public Sub Initialize(ByVal routeName As String, departureMinutes As Variant)
Dim i As Long
m_routeName = routeName

ReDim m_departureMinutes(LBound(departureMinutes) To UBound(departureMinutes))
For i = LBound(departureMinutes) To UBound(departureMinutes)
m_departureMinutes(i) = departureMinutes(i)
Next i
End Sub

Public Function GetNextDeparture(ByVal currentTime As Date) As Date
Dim currentMinuteOfDay As Long
Dim i As Long
Dim h As Integer
Dim m As Integer

currentMinuteOfDay = Hour(currentTime) * 60 + Minute(currentTime)

' Find next departure
For i = LBound(m_departureMinutes) To UBound(m_departureMinutes)
If m_departureMinutes(i) > currentMinuteOfDay Then
h = m_departureMinutes(i) \ 60
m = m_departureMinutes(i) Mod 60
GetNextDeparture = TimeSerial(h, m, 0)
Exit Function
End If
Next i

' No more departures today, return first tomorrow
h = m_departureMinutes(LBound(m_departureMinutes)) \ 60
m = m_departureMinutes(LBound(m_departureMinutes)) Mod 60
GetNextDeparture = DateSerial(Year(currentTime), Month(currentTime), Day(currentTime) + 1) + _
TimeSerial(h, m, 0)
End Function

Public Function GetMinutesUntilNext(ByVal currentTime As Date) As Long
Dim nextDeparture As Date
nextDeparture = GetNextDeparture(currentTime)

GetMinutesUntilNext = DateDiff("n", currentTime, nextDeparture)
End Function

Public Function IsAtDeparture(ByVal currentTime As Date, _
Optional ByVal toleranceMinutes As Integer = 0) As Boolean
Dim currentMinuteOfDay As Long
Dim i As Long

currentMinuteOfDay = Hour(currentTime) * 60 + Minute(currentTime)

For i = LBound(m_departureMinutes) To UBound(m_departureMinutes)
If Abs(m_departureMinutes(i) - currentMinuteOfDay) <= toleranceMinutes Then
IsAtDeparture = True
Exit Function
End If
Next i

IsAtDeparture = False
End Function

Error Handling

' Error 13: Type mismatch
' - Input cannot be converted to date/time

' Safe minute extraction with error handling
Function SafeGetMinute(ByVal timeValue As Variant) As Integer
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler

If IsNull(timeValue) Then
SafeGetMinute = 0
ElseIf Not IsDate(timeValue) Then
SafeGetMinute = 0
Else
SafeGetMinute = Minute(timeValue)
End If

Exit Function

ErrorHandler:
SafeGetMinute = 0
End Function

' Validate before extracting
Function GetMinuteOrDefault(ByVal timeValue As Variant, _
Optional ByVal defaultValue As Integer = 0) As Integer
If IsNull(timeValue) Then
GetMinuteOrDefault = defaultValue
ElseIf IsDate(timeValue) Then
GetMinuteOrDefault = Minute(timeValue)
Else
GetMinuteOrDefault = defaultValue
End If
End Function

Performance Considerations

Fast Operation: Extracting time components is highly optimized in VB6
No String Parsing: Direct access to internal time representation
Cache for Repeated Use: If calling multiple times on same value
Combine Extractions: Use Hour, Minute, Second together efficiently

Best Practices

Use with Format - Pad with leading zero: Format(Minute(t), "00")
Validate input - Check IsDate before calling Minute
Handle Null gracefully - Use IsNull check for Variant inputs
Combine with Hour/Second - Extract all time components together
Use for validation - Check minute intervals for appointments
Consider TimeSerial - To reconstruct time from components
Document assumptions - Clarify if using 0-59 or 1-60 range
Use constants - Define meaningful minute values (TOP_OF_HOUR = 0)
Test edge cases - Null values, invalid strings, midnight
Remember range - Always 0-59, never 60 or negative

Function	Returns	Range	Use Case
Minute	Minute of hour	0-59	Extract minute component
Hour	Hour of day	0-23	Extract hour component
Second	Second of minute	0-59	Extract second component
`TimeSerial`	Date/Time	N/A	Create time from components

Minute vs Hour vs Second

Dim timeValue As Date
timeValue = #2:45:30 PM#

' Extract individual components
Debug.Print Hour(timeValue)    ' 14 (2 PM in 24-hour format)
Debug.Print Minute(timeValue)  ' 45
Debug.Print Second(timeValue)  ' 30

' Reconstruct time
Dim reconstructed As Date
reconstructed = TimeSerial(Hour(timeValue), Minute(timeValue), Second(timeValue))
' reconstructed = #2:45:30 PM#

' Format as string
Debug.Print Format(Hour(timeValue), "00") & ":" & _
Format(Minute(timeValue), "00") & ":" & _
Format(Second(timeValue), "00")
' Output: "14:45:30"

Minute Range (0-59)

' Minute function always returns 0-59
Debug.Print Minute(#12:00:00 AM#)  ' 0 (midnight)
Debug.Print Minute(#12:15:00 AM#)  ' 15
Debug.Print Minute(#12:30:00 AM#)  ' 30
Debug.Print Minute(#12:45:00 AM#)  ' 45
Debug.Print Minute(#12:59:59 PM#)  ' 59 (last minute of noon hour)
Debug.Print Minute(#11:59:59 PM#)  ' 59 (last minute before midnight)

' Common minute values
Const TOP_OF_HOUR As Integer = 0
Const QUARTER_PAST As Integer = 15
Const HALF_PAST As Integer = 30
Const QUARTER_TO As Integer = 45

Platform Notes

Available in all VB6 versions
Part of VBA core library
Available in VBScript
Returns Integer (not Long)
Range is always 0-59 (inclusive)
Handles Null by returning Null
Type mismatch error for invalid input
Same behavior across all Windows versions
Works with Date variables and literals
Ignores date component of Date values

Limitations

No milliseconds: Does not access millisecond component
Integer only: Returns whole minutes, not fractional
No timezone: Does not handle timezone information
Type mismatch: Error 13 for non-date inputs
Null propagation: Returns Null for Null input (may need handling)

Hour: Returns hour component (0-23)
Second: Returns second component (0-59)
Day: Returns day of month (1-31)
Month: Returns month (1-12)
Year: Returns year
Now: Returns current date and time
Time: Returns current time
TimeSerial: Creates time from hour, minute, second
TimeValue: Converts string to time
Format: Formats date/time as string