Re: [PHP] difference between two times? Date_diff and DateTime::diff

On 16 Jun 2009 at 14:05, Matthew Croud wrote:

> Hi Dajve and Tom,
> 
> Thanks again, I totally didn't realise that this function is yet to be  
> implemented in the mainstream PHP,
> 
> So is there no function that exists in vanilla PHP that can take two  
> dates/times and supply the difference ?
> If there isn't I do apologise, i've been talking to my friend who does  
> ASP.net and he said he was sure there is for PHP.

Hi,

This is a quick function that works using unix time stamps.  Its a bit quick and messy but 
works ok.  Take a look at the manual page for the strtotime() function to get a better idea 
of what it can handle.

<?

$Date1_UnixTimeStamp=strtotime("10:10:45");
$Date2_UnixTimeStamp=strtotime("12:45:03");

print_r(DateDiff( $Date1_UnixTimeStamp, $Date2_UnixTimeStamp));

function DateDiff( $Date1_UnixTimeStamp, $Date2_UnixTimeStamp){
	
	$return_difference	= Array(
		"Days"		=>	0,
		"Hours"		=>	0,
		"Minutes"	=>	0,
		"Seconds"	=>	0
	);
	
	$amounts	= Array(
		"Days"		=>	60*60*24,
		"Hours"		=>	60*60,
		"Minutes"	=>	60
	);
	
	$difference = $Date2_UnixTimeStamp - $Date1_UnixTimeStamp;
	
	if($difference >= $amounts["Days"]){
		$return_difference["Days"] = floor($difference / $amounts["Days"]);
		$difference -=  $return_difference["Days"] * $amounts["Days"];
	}
	
	if($difference >= $amounts["Hours"]){
		$return_difference["Hours"] = floor($difference / $amounts["Hours"]);
		$difference -=   $return_difference["Hours"] * $amounts["Hours"];
	}
	if($difference >= $amounts["Minutes"]){
		$return_difference["Minutes"] = floor($difference / $amounts["Minutes"]);
		$difference -=  $return_difference["Minutes"] * $amounts["Minutes"];
	}
	
	$return_difference["Seconds"] = $difference;
	
	return $return_difference;
}

?>

Regards

Ian
-- 



> On 16 Jun 2009, at 13:11, Dajve Green wrote:
> 
> >
> > Hi Matthew,
> >
> > A quick note on the DateTime::diff() method - it's only available as  
> > from
> > PHP 5.3, which is currently in release candidate stage, meaning  
> > unless you
> > have your own server running PHP, it won't be available to use  
> > (hopefully -
> > I would be sceptical of any webhost which rolls out RCs on production
> > servers).
> >
> > If you need to know what version of PHP you're running, use:
> > phpversion() or phpinfo()
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Matthew Croud [mailto:[email protected]]
> >> Sent: 16 June 2009 12:42
> >> To: Tom Chubb
> >> Cc: PHP General list
> >> Subject: Re: [PHP] difference between two times? Date_diff and
> >> DateTime::diff
> >>
> >> Hi Tom,
> >>
> >> Thanks for the reply,  I believe I have a fair understanding of
> >> functions, and I have followed the example on the PHP manual page (
> >> http://uk3.php.net/manual/en/function.date-diff.php
> >>  ), ideally I want to know how to use the class DateTime::diff, how
> >> can I use the DateTime::diff to get the difference between two times/
> >> dates ? I suppose then I'm after the syntax
> >>
> >> would it be like this for example:
> >> $DIfferenceInTime  = DateTime::diff(10:00,12:32);
> >>
> >> Thanks again for helping me out.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 16 Jun 2009, at 12:33, Tom Chubb wrote:
> >>
> >>> Matt,
> >>> Do you understand how to use functions?
> >>> A function is defined like this:
> >>>
> >>> function () {
> >>> //code goes here
> >>> }
> >>>
> >>> You can pass arguments to be used in a function like this:
> >>>
> >>> function($arg1, $arg2) {
> >>> //code goes here
> >>> }
> >>>
> >>> In the first example on the following page:
> >> http://uk3.php.net/manual/en/function.date-diff.php
> >>> To call the function you need to provide two arguments: $dtTime1 &
> >>> $dtTime2
> >>>
> >>> To use in a script, you need to first define the function, as per
> >>> the example:
> >>>
> >>> <?php
> >>>
> >>> function GetDeltaTime($dtTime1, $dtTime2)
> >>> {
> >>>  $nUXDate1 = strtotime($dtTime1->format("Y-m-d H:i:s"));
> >>>  $nUXDate2 = strtotime($dtTime2->format("Y-m-d H:i:s"));
> >>>
> >>>  $nUXDelta = $nUXDate1 - $nUXDate2;
> >>>  $strDeltaTime = "" . $nUXDelta/60/60; // sec -> hour
> >>>
> >>>  $nPos = strpos($strDeltaTime, ".");
> >>>  if (nPos !== false)
> >>>    $strDeltaTime = substr($strDeltaTime, 0, $nPos + 3);
> >>>
> >>>  return $strDeltaTime;
> >>> }
> >>>
> >>> ?>
> >>>
> >>> Then you need to call the function like this:
> >>>
> >>> <?php
> >>> GetDeltaTime("time1-goes-here", "time2-goes-here")
> >>> ?>
> >>>
> >>> And it should spit out the difference.
> >>>
> >>> Code is untested and if you didn't follow that I suggest you read up
> >>> on functions: http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_functions.asp
> >>>
> >>> Hope this helps - I'm probably in a similar situation to you and
> >>> have been dabbling with PHP for a few years just as a hobby but
> >>> thought I'd try and help out.
> >>> You'll learn a lot from reading this list as well.
> >>>
> >>> Cheers and good luck,
> >>>
> >>> Tom
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> 2009/6/16 Matthew Croud <[email protected]>
> >>>
> >>> Hello,
> >>>
> >>> My journey of learning PHP is going well, so i've decided to make a
> >>> small program which works out the difference between two times and
> >>> records the data in a text file.
> >>>
> >>> I've searched the PHP manual for functions which can help me out,
> >>> and I discovered the function Date_diff (
> >> http://uk3.php.net/manual/en/function.date-diff.php
> >>> )and the class DateTime::diff (
> >> http://uk3.php.net/manual/en/datetime.diff.php
> >>> )
> >>>
> >>> My question is, how on earth do I use these functions ? I really
> >>> don't understand the manual documentation.
> >>>
> >>> I've just moved onto the subject of classes and so I'm fairly new to
> >>> the concept, although I am following it well.
> >>>
> >>> If someone could explain to me how to use ether of these ( Date_diff
> >>> and DateTime::diff ) I would be VERY grateful.
> >>>
> >>> Thank you so much!
> >>> Matt
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/)
> >>> To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> Matthew Croud
> >> Studio
> >>
> >> Obvious Print Solutions Limited
> >> Unit 3 Abbeygate Court
> >> Stockett Lane
> >> Maidstone
> >> Kent
> >> ME15 0PP
> >>
> >> T | 0845 094 9704
> >> F | 0845 094 9705
> >> www.obviousprint.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > -- 
> > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/)
> > To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
> >
> 
> Matthew Croud
> Studio
> 
> Obvious Print Solutions Limited
> Unit 3 Abbeygate Court
> Stockett Lane
> Maidstone
> Kent
> ME15 0PP
> 
> T | 0845 094 9704
> F | 0845 094 9705
> www.obviousprint.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>