# Data Type Conversion **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [June 26, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412 "2024-06-26T18:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@drey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drey)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/1 "2024-06-26T18:02:40Z")
I have a memory tag containing realtime timestamps of specific data. The memory tag is of string type, and I need to convert it to DateTime so that I can visualize it in charts. The data format of the memory tag is "2024-06-26 23:24:40 +0530". ---
**Author:** ![amarks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/amarks/32/45610_2.png) [@amarks](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/amarks)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/2 "2024-06-26T18:17:06Z")
What do you mean "input memory tag" ? Do you mean it's an input box on the screen? ---
**Author:** ![drey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@drey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drey)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/3 "2024-06-26T18:28:04Z")
no i meant normal memory tag. i mentioned input because it contains an incoming real time data ---
**Author:** ![amarks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/amarks/32/45610_2.png) [@amarks](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/amarks)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/4 "2024-06-26T18:28:23Z")
Where's the data coming from? ---
**Author:** ![drey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@drey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drey)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/5 "2024-06-26T18:32:48Z")
Its coming from the gateway (multiple users). I have created a reference tag for it and is utilizing it. I need to convert the string datatype to DateTime. ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/6 "2024-06-26T18:42:12Z")
You'll need to script it, as there is no expression function to do it. EDIT: Fixed error in script. ```python def parseDate(stringIn): format = 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss Z' return system.date.parse(stringIn, format) ``` ---
**Author:** ![drey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@drey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drey)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/7 "2024-06-26T19:04:23Z")
I have to script it in the scripting section in the project browser? How do i call the script in my tag after that? ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/8 "2024-06-26T19:24:45Z")
Since we are doing this through the tag system, it would have to be added to your [Global Scripting Project](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/platform/scripting/scripting-in-ignition/project-library#gateway-scripting-project). Then you can use an expression tag with an expression similar to: `runScript('util.parseDate',0,{path.to.your.referece.tag})` If you make a UDT out of it, you can then make as many instances as you need. ---
**Author:** ![drey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@drey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drey)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 4:12am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/9 "2024-06-27T04:12:06Z")
It is giving Error\_ExpressionEval. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/4/5/4523311c1cca16dbcea0fc9be54def3b0b405781.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/2/c/2c32317ed03c147184fc1ac03660ffd31707ea19.png) ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 11:22am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/10 "2024-06-27T11:22:15Z")
Click on the diagnostic button on the tag, and show what it says. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/f/d/fd082f6483da6a89a882b4f4bdd41bc50b8728bd.png) ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/11 "2024-06-27T12:43:20Z")
Sorry, misspelling on script above. Fixed it. Try that one instead. That's what I get for spitting an example out before going to a meeting. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![drey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@drey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/drey)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-conversion/92412/12 "2024-07-07T14:41:47Z")
Thank you for your response. I'll try that out.