Skip to main content

EncodeTime

function EncodeTime(Hour, Min, Sec, MSec: Word): TDateTime;

Example​

procedure ScriptEvent(var Value: variant);
begin
  Value := EncodeTime(14, 30, 45, 125);
end;

Usage​

EncodeTime encodes validated hour, minute, second and millisecond fields as a time-only TDateTime value.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
HourWordHour 0..23.
MinWordMinute 0..59.
SecWordSecond 0..59; leap-second value 60 is invalid.
MSecWordMillisecond 0..999.

Returns

A non-negative TDateTime fraction between 0 for midnight and just under 1 for 23:59:59.999.

Errors

An out-of-range component raises EConvertError; Velox does not catch it.

Additional Technical Info​

EncodeTime constructs a time-of-day fraction from hour through millisecond fields. Velox binds the generated script declaration directly to Delphi System.SysUtils.EncodeTime.

The example is fictional, deterministic and source-reviewed. It was not executed by the documentation workflow.

Implementation

The modified PascalScript date library registers the exact Delphi RTL routine. The terminal validates all four fields and converts them to the fraction of a 24-hour day represented by the requested millisecond timestamp.

Edge cases and quirks

  • 24:00:00.000 is invalid; use the following date's midnight when that boundary is required.
  • The result is time-only. Adding it directly to a non-negative encoded date is conventional, but adding it to a negative pre-epoch date gives the wrong result under Delphi's sign convention. Use EncodeDateTime for a complete historical timestamp.
  • Resolution is one millisecond and the binary floating representation may not store the decimal fraction exactly.
  • The function does not apply a timezone, daylight-saving rule or locale.

Side effects

None.

Performance and concurrency

Constant-time validation and arithmetic with no shared state.

Related entries

  • DecodeTime writes the encoded time fields to variables.
  • EncodeDateTime safely combines date and time fields, including pre-epoch dates.

External references

Created 2026-07-15