BRF+ - Number to timepoint conversion

[Former Member]

Hi all,

I need to calculate the difference in days between two timestamps.

These timestamps are from table GRFNMWRTINST and are appearing as 'Number' data elements instead of 'Timepoint' data elements in BRF+.

So, when I try to use the function DT_DURATION_DIFF_INT_DAYS, I get the following error message:

"Incorrect parameter type Number supplied for function DT_DURATION_DIFF_INT_DAYS, expected type timepoint.

Is there a function to convert number to timepoint ? (I couldn't find a suitable one.) If not, what is the simplest way to calculate the difference in days between the two timestamps.

[christianlechne · Accepted solution]

Hi,

there is not function to transfer a number to a timepoint. You have several options to overcome that issue:

• If you have the parameter in the signature of the BRFplus function you can do the movement in ABAP and use a BRFplus timepoint data element (my preferred option)
• You can transfer a string to a timepoint by using the formula function STRING_TO_TIMEPOINT
  So you would have to import the timestamp as a string in the correct format (see documentation to the formula function)
• You can tranfer the single elements of a timestamp using the DT_SET_PART_* formula function. For this you have to split the number first into the corresponding parts of a timestamp

Unfortunatly no direct way to achieve your goal (at least none I know).

BR

Christian

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Christian,

thanks for reply.

When i choose "Show" Documentation for STRING_TO_TIMEPOINT in BRF+ workbench I get the error : 

"SAPScript documentation is not available for this object"

  No documentation to display"

And having trouble with DT_SET_PART_* as it requires input in timepoint format and it doesn't seem to be accepting a manually keyed in timepoint to begin with even if it is in the format specified in the documenation. So can't proceed to picking out the corresponding part from the number..

[anindyaSAP · Accepted solution]

Hi Ranjith,

Please use STRING_TO_TIMEPOINT along with DT_SET_PART_DAYS to pass TP in correct format.

Example, DT_SET_PART_DAYS ( STRING_TO_TIMEPOINT ( '2010-06-25T12:34:56' ) , 15 )

Hope this works for you.

BR,

Anindya

[christianlechne · Accepted solution]

Hi,

concnerning the error when opening the help -> you have to get in touch with your SAP basis team, as this indicates that something is not installed that should be installed or you are missing a note

I attached the help as a screenshot

Concerning the usage of the formula functions you have to do it as Anindya states, nevertheless you have to import a string and not a number.

As mentioned in my first answer: Is the option to transform the data before calling BRFplus not feasible for you?

BR

Christian

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Christian & Anindya,

Thanks for the inputs. Used a combination of:

DT_DURATION_DIFF_INT_DAYS

STRING_TO_TIMEPOINT

SUBSTRING

to get the required result  Final formula and output below:

[Jocelyn_Dart · Accepted solution]

Well done... but you might want to consider bundling that up into a custom formula function if you need to do it more than once.  They are quick to create and would make the formula much more readable.

Rgds,

Jocelyn

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Footnote update for the benefit of future readers with similar requirement:

I was not aware of this function STRING_TO_TIMEPOINT as it was not appearing in my list of functions in the BRF+ workbench.

Had to get an OSS note installed for this to be available.

Note 1965274: BRF+ : Downport of formula functionals

Symptom

Within the formula expression the functiona string_to_amount, string_to_quantity and string_to_timepoint are missing.