Re: data import: 12-hour time w/o AM/PM

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 18:38:44 -0000
"Oliveiros d'Azevedo Cristina" <oliveiros.cristina@marktest.pt> wrote:


>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Tarlika Elisabeth Schmitz" <postgresql3@numerixtechnology.de>
>To: <pgsql-sql@postgresql.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 6:14 PM
>Subject: [SQL] data import: 12-hour time w/o AM/PM
>
>
>I am importing data in CSV format. My technique is to COPY the data
>into interim tables (starting with a "z") where I analyze them, clean
>up inconsistencies; eventually I will populate the "proper" tables with
>these data. (In the example below: COPY CSV into zevent, from there
>populate event.)
>
>The time field of the event data is givng me a headache: it's in 12h
>format but without the AM/PM qualifier!
>

>Howdy, Tarlika.
>
>If the data doesn't bring the AM/PM how are you supposed to
>distinguish between,say, 10pm and 10am ? Does it always start at
>10:30am? So 10am never arises?
>
>Best,
>Oliveiros
>

On a given day, between 6-9 events are staged, about 1/2 hour apart. If
the set of events spans 12:00, I definitely know that this isn't
midnight. I also know the order within a set.
Looking at a particular
location, which contributes to 80% of the data, there have been no
events at 10:?? ever (so far). 

Looking at it as a human being I can decide in a fraction of
a second whether it's AM or PM. I just can't think of an automated
procedure how to transform this half-baked 12-hour nonsense into a time.