timevalue - Datetime - VB6Parse Library Reference

VB6 TimeValue Function

The TimeValue function returns a Variant (Date) containing the time value represented by a string.

Syntax

TimeValue(time)

Parameters

time: Required. String expression representing a time (e.g., "14:30:00", "2:30 PM"). Can also be a Variant containing a string or a numeric value representing a time.

Returns

Returns a Variant of subtype Date containing the time value. The date portion is set to zero (December 30, 1899).

Remarks

The TimeValue function parses a string and returns the corresponding time value:

String input: Accepts time strings in various formats (e.g., "14:30", "2:30 PM", "23:59:59")
Date portion: Always returns zero date (12/30/1899)
Locale aware: Accepts time formats based on system locale
Numeric input: Accepts numeric values representing fractional days (e.g., 0.5 = 12:00 PM)
Null handling: Returns Null if input is Null
Error handling: Error 13 (Type mismatch) if string cannot be parsed as a time
No milliseconds: Only parses up to seconds
Companion to DateValue: Use DateValue for date-only parsing
Type returned: Returns Variant (Date), not a string

Accepted Time Formats

24-hour: "14:30", "23:59:59"
12-hour: "2:30 PM", "11:59:59 PM"
With/without seconds: "8:00", "8:00:00"
With/without AM/PM: "7:15", "7:15 AM"
Numeric: 0.75 (6:00 PM)

Invalid Inputs

"25:00" (invalid hour)
"13:60" (invalid minute)
"not a time" (not parseable)

Typical Uses

Parse User Input: Convert time strings to time values
Time Comparison: Compare parsed times to other time values
Scheduling: Store and use times from configuration or user entry
Time Calculations: Perform arithmetic with parsed times
Validation: Check if input is a valid time
Database Import: Parse time strings from data sources
Time Filtering: Filter records by parsed time
Time Formatting: Convert string to time for display or calculation

Basic Examples

Example 1: Parse Time String

Sub ParseTime()
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue("14:30:00")
MsgBox "Parsed time: " & Format$(t, "hh:mm AM/PM")
End Sub

Example 2: Parse 12-hour Time

Function ParseNoon() As Date
ParseNoon = TimeValue("12:00 PM")
End Function

Example 3: Validate Time Input

Function IsValidTime(inputStr As String) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue(inputStr)
IsValidTime = (Err.Number = 0)
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Example 4: Compare Parsed Time

Function IsAfterNoon(timeStr As String) As Boolean
IsAfterNoon = (TimeValue(timeStr) > TimeValue("12:00 PM"))
End Function

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Parse and Add Minutes

Function AddMinutes(timeStr As String, minutes As Integer) As Date
AddMinutes = TimeValue(timeStr) + TimeSerial(0, minutes, 0)
End Function

Pattern 2: Parse and Compare to Now

Function IsPast(timeStr As String) As Boolean
IsPast = (TimeValue(timeStr) < Time)
End Function

Pattern 3: Parse and Format

Function FormatParsedTime(timeStr As String) As String
FormatParsedTime = Format$(TimeValue(timeStr), "hh:mm:ss")
End Function

Pattern 4: Parse with Error Handling

Function TryParseTime(timeStr As String, ByRef result As Date) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
result = TimeValue(timeStr)
TryParseTime = (Err.Number = 0)
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Pattern 5: Parse Numeric Time

Function ParseNumericTime(numericValue As Double) As Date
ParseNumericTime = TimeValue(numericValue)
End Function

Pattern 6: Parse and Set Property

Sub SetStartTime(obj As Object, timeStr As String)
obj.StartTime = TimeValue(timeStr)
End Sub

Pattern 7: Parse Array of Times

Function ParseTimeArray(timeStrings() As String) As Variant
Dim i As Integer
Dim times() As Date
ReDim times(LBound(timeStrings) To UBound(timeStrings))
For i = LBound(timeStrings) To UBound(timeStrings)
times(i) = TimeValue(timeStrings(i))
Next i
ParseTimeArray = times
End Function

Pattern 8: Filter Valid Times

Function FilterValidTimes(timeStrings() As String) As Collection
Dim validTimes As New Collection
Dim i As Integer
For i = LBound(timeStrings) To UBound(timeStrings)
If IsValidTime(timeStrings(i)) Then
validTimes.Add TimeValue(timeStrings(i))
End If
Next i
Set FilterValidTimes = validTimes
End Function

Pattern 9: Parse and Use in Schedule

Sub AddScheduleEntry(schedule As Collection, timeStr As String, description As String)
Dim entry As New Collection
entry.Add TimeValue(timeStr), "Time"
entry.Add description, "Description"
schedule.Add entry
End Sub

Pattern 10: Parse and Compare Range

Function IsWithinRange(timeStr As String, startStr As String, endStr As String) As Boolean
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue(timeStr)
IsWithinRange = (t >= TimeValue(startStr) And t <= TimeValue(endStr))
End Function

Advanced Usage

Example 1: Time Parser Class

' Class: TimeParser
' Parses and validates time strings
Option Explicit

Public Function Parse(timeStr As String) As Date
Parse = TimeValue(timeStr)
End Function

Public Function TryParse(timeStr As String, ByRef result As Date) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
result = TimeValue(timeStr)
TryParse = (Err.Number = 0)
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Public Function IsValid(timeStr As String) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue(timeStr)
IsValid = (Err.Number = 0)
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Public Function Format(timeStr As String, formatStr As String) As String
Format = Format$(TimeValue(timeStr), formatStr)
End Function

Example 2: Schedule Importer Module

' Module: ScheduleImporter
' Imports and parses schedule times from data
Option Explicit

Public Function ImportSchedule(times() As String, descriptions() As String) As Collection
Dim schedule As New Collection
Dim i As Integer
For i = LBound(times) To UBound(times)
Dim entry As New Collection
entry.Add TimeValue(times(i)), "Time"
entry.Add descriptions(i), "Description"
schedule.Add entry
Next i
Set ImportSchedule = schedule
End Function

Public Function GetEarliestTime(times() As String) As Date
Dim minTime As Date
Dim i As Integer
minTime = TimeValue(times(LBound(times)))
For i = LBound(times) + 1 To UBound(times)
If TimeValue(times(i)) < minTime Then minTime = TimeValue(times(i))
Next i
GetEarliestTime = minTime
End Function

Public Function GetLatestTime(times() As String) As Date
Dim maxTime As Date
Dim i As Integer
maxTime = TimeValue(times(LBound(times)))
For i = LBound(times) + 1 To UBound(times)
If TimeValue(times(i)) > maxTime Then maxTime = TimeValue(times(i))
Next i
GetLatestTime = maxTime
End Function

Example 3: Time Validator Class

' Class: TimeValidator
' Validates and normalizes time strings
Option Explicit

Public Function IsValid(timeStr As String) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue(timeStr)
IsValid = (Err.Number = 0)
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Public Function Normalize(timeStr As String) As String
On Error Resume Next
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue(timeStr)
If Err.Number = 0 Then
Normalize = Format$(t, "hh:mm:ss")
Else
Normalize = ""
End If
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Example 4: Time Range Analyzer Module

' Module: TimeRangeAnalyzer
' Analyzes and compares time ranges
Option Explicit

Public Function GetTimeRange(times() As String) As String
Dim minTime As Date, maxTime As Date
Dim i As Integer
minTime = TimeValue(times(LBound(times)))
maxTime = minTime
For i = LBound(times) + 1 To UBound(times)
If TimeValue(times(i)) < minTime Then minTime = TimeValue(times(i))
If TimeValue(times(i)) > maxTime Then maxTime = TimeValue(times(i))
Next i
GetTimeRange = Format$(minTime, "hh:mm") & " - " & Format$(maxTime, "hh:mm")
End Function

Public Function IsWithinRange(timeStr As String, startStr As String, endStr As String) As Boolean
Dim t As Date
t = TimeValue(timeStr)
IsWithinRange = (t >= TimeValue(startStr) And t <= TimeValue(endStr))
End Function

Error Handling

The TimeValue function can raise the following errors:

Error 13 (Type mismatch): If the string cannot be parsed as a time
Returns Null: If the input is Null (not an error)

Performance Notes

Fast operation - simple parsing
Constant time O(1) complexity for valid strings
Locale-dependent parsing speed
Safe to call repeatedly

Best Practices

Validate input before calling if user-provided
Handle Null explicitly when working with nullable fields
Use Format$ for display after parsing
Test with different locales for internationalization
Use TryParse pattern for robust error handling
Document expected formats for maintainability
Store as Date type for calculations
Use with TimeSerial for arithmetic
Test edge cases (midnight, noon, invalid times)
Combine with DateValue for full date/time parsing

Comparison Table

Function	Purpose	Input	Returns
`TimeValue`	Parse time from string	time string	Date (time only)
`DateValue`	Parse date from string	date string	Date (date only)
`TimeSerial`	Create time from components	hour, minute, second	Date (time only)
`DateSerial`	Create date from components	year, month, day	Date (date only)
`CDate`	Convert to date	expression	Date

Platform Notes

Available in VB6, VBA, and VBScript
Consistent behavior across platforms
Locale-aware parsing
Date portion always zero (12/30/1899)
Compatible with all date/time functions

Limitations

Only parses up to seconds (no milliseconds)
Locale-dependent parsing (may fail on some formats)
Cannot parse date and time together (use CDate for full datetime)
No timezone support
No daylight saving time handling
Returns only time portion (date is zero)
Error on invalid input (not Null)