Re: coreutils don't accept time_t value

[Eric Blake]

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Please keep replies on the list, so that others may see the resolution if
they encounter the same issue.

According to Volker Kuhlmann on 5/4/2006 1:01 AM:
> Eric,
> 
>>       # local time zone used
>>       date -d '1970-01-01 UTC 946684800 seconds' +"%Y-%m-%d %T %z"
>>       1999-12-31 19:00:00 -0500
> 
> I did poke around the info docs but didn't see that. Splendid, works
> with the old version too.
> 
>> date -d @946684800
>> Fri Dec 31 17:00:00 MST 1999
> 
> Very useful, but makes the script dependend on the new version.

Also, not documented very prominently.  See proposed patch:

> 
>> 5.3.0 was an unstable release.  Consider upgrading to the
>> latest stable release, 5.94.
> 
> That will happen with the next distro upgrade, to whatever version
> distro then ships.
> 
> Thanks much for your help,
> 
> Volker
> 

doc/ChangeLog
2006-05-04  Eric Blake  <address@hidden>

        * coreutils.texi (Examples of date): Give example of @seconds.

- --
Life is short - so eat dessert first!

Eric Blake             address@hidden
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Index: doc/coreutils.texi
===================================================================
RCS file: /sources/coreutils/coreutils/doc/coreutils.texi,v
retrieving revision 1.326
diff -u -p -r1.326 coreutils.texi
--- doc/coreutils.texi  23 Apr 2006 21:46:54 -0000      1.326
+++ doc/coreutils.texi  4 May 2006 12:36:15 -0000
@@ -12496,6 +12496,14 @@ date -d '1970-01-01 UTC 946684800 second
 1999-12-31 19:00:00 -0500
 @end smallexample
 
+Or if you do not mind depending on the @samp{@@} feature present since
+coreutils 5.3.0, you could shorten this to:
+
address@hidden
+date -d @@946684800 +"%F %T %z"
+1999-12-31 19:00:00 -0500
address@hidden smallexample
+
 Often it is better to output UTC-relative date and time:
 
 @smallexample