comparison lispref/os.texi @ 15778:c96cee4f8be8

Explain range of time values, and what negative year numbers mean.

15777:d6eb0b865cd2

  These functions convert time values (lists of two or three integers)
to strings or to calendrical information.  There is also a function to
convert calendrical information to a time value.  You can get time
values from the functions @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}) and
@code{file-attributes} (@pxref{File Attributes}).

@defun format-time-string format-string time
This function converts @var{time} to a string according to
@var{format-string}.  The argument @var{format-string} may contain
@samp{%}-sequences which say to substitute parts of the time.  Here is a

15778:c96cee4f8be8

  These functions convert time values (lists of two or three integers)
to strings or to calendrical information.  There is also a function to
convert calendrical information to a time value.  You can get time
values from the functions @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}) and
@code{file-attributes} (@pxref{File Attributes}).

Many operating systems are limited to time values that contain 32 bits
of information; these systems typically handle only the times from
1901-12-13 20:45:52 UTC through 2038-01-19 03:14:07 UTC.  However, some
operating systems have larger time values, and can represent times far
in the past or future.

Time conversion functions always use the Gregorian calendar, even for
dates before the Gregorian calendar was introduced.  Year numbers count
the number of years since the year 1 B.C., and do not skip zero as
traditional Gregorian years do; for example, the year number -37
represents the Gregorian year 38 B.C@.

@defun format-time-string format-string time
This function converts @var{time} to a string according to
@var{format-string}.  The argument @var{format-string} may contain
@samp{%}-sequences which say to substitute parts of the time.  Here is a