How to Convert Text to Date in ArcGIS Pro

Converting text (string) data to a date field in ArcGIS Pro is a common and essential task, especially when dealing with time-series data or when you need to perform temporal analysis. The most direct and efficient method for this conversion is by using the Convert Temporal Field geoprocessing tool. This tool allows you to transform string or numeric fields containing time values into a proper date field type.

Why Convert Text to Date?

Converting your date information from a text (string) or numeric format to a dedicated date field type offers several advantages:

Temporal Analysis: Enables time-based queries, filtering, and analysis, such as identifying trends, patterns, or events over specific periods.
Symbology and Labeling: Allows for dynamic visualization and labeling based on temporal attributes.
Data Consistency: Ensures uniformity in date representation across your dataset.
Compatibility: Many geoprocessing tools and functions require date fields for input.
Sorting and Ordering: Dates can be correctly sorted chronologically.

Using the Convert Temporal Field Geoprocessing Tool

The Convert Temporal Field tool is designed specifically for converting various temporal data types into a standard date field. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Open ArcGIS Pro: Launch your ArcGIS Pro project.
Access the Geoprocessing Pane:
- Go to the Analysis tab on the ribbon.
- Click on Tools in the Geoprocessing group. This will open the Geoprocessing pane.
Search for the Tool:
- In the Geoprocessing pane, type "Convert Temporal Field" into the search bar.
- Select the Convert Temporal Field (Data Management Tools) from the search results.
Configure the Tool Parameters: The tool's dialog box will appear with several parameters to define:
- Input Table: Select the layer or standalone table that contains the text (string) or numeric field you want to convert. You can choose from the drop-down list or browse to your data.
- Input Field: Choose the specific text (string) or numeric field from your input table that contains the date/time information.
- Output Field: Provide a name for the new date field that will be created. For example, EventDate, ParsedDate, or ObservationTime.
- Output Field Type: Set this to Date. The tool also supports creating a DateOnly or TimeOnly field if your data only contains those components.
- Input Date Format (Crucial Step): This is perhaps the most important parameter. You must specify the exact format of your date/time values in the Input Field. If this format does not match, the conversion will likely fail or produce incorrect results.
  - Common Format Codes:
    - YYYY-MM-DD: For dates like 2023-10-27
    - MM/DD/YYYY: For dates like 10/27/2023
    - DD-MM-YYYY: For dates like 27-10-2023
    - YYYYMMDD: For dates like 20231027
    - YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS: For dates and times like 2023-10-27 14:30:00
    - M/D/YYYY h:m:s A: For dates and times like 10/27/2023 2:30:00 PM
    - ISO: For ISO 8601 standard dates (e.g., 2023-10-27T14:30:00Z).
  - Example Formats:
    | Example Input String | Input Date Format |
    | :------------------- | :---------------- |
    | 2023-10-27 | YYYY-MM-DD |
    | 10/27/2023 | MM/DD/YYYY |
    | Oct 27, 2023 | Mon DD, YYYY |
    | 20231027143000 | YYYYMMDDHHMMSS |
    | 2023-10-27T14:30:00| YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS |
    | 27-Oct-2023 14:30 | DD-Mon-YYYY HH:MM |
  - Tip: Examine your source data carefully to determine the exact format. If your dates have varying formats, you might need to pre-process them using the Calculate Field tool with Python expressions to standardize the format before using Convert Temporal Field.
- Expression (Optional): This parameter is typically used for more advanced scenarios where you need to parse a complex string or combine multiple fields to form a date. For simple direct conversions, you usually leave this blank.
- Output Table (Optional): By default, the tool adds the new date field to your input table. If you want to create a new table with the converted field, you can specify an output table name and location.
Run the Tool: Click the Run button at the bottom of the Geoprocessing pane.

Once the tool completes, a new field with the specified Output Field name and Date field type will be added to your table, containing the properly converted date and time values.

For more detailed information on the Convert Temporal Field tool and its parameters, refer to the official ArcGIS Pro documentation.

Practical Considerations and Troubleshooting

Consistency is Key: The Convert Temporal Field tool works best when all values in your Input Field adhere to a single, consistent date format. Inconsistent formats (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY mixed with DD-MM-YYYY) will lead to errors or null values in the output.
Null Values: If the tool encounters a value it cannot parse according to the specified Input Date Format, it will typically assign a Null value to the corresponding record in the new date field.
Pre-processing with Calculate Field: For highly inconsistent or complex date strings, you might need to use the Calculate Field tool first. This allows you to use Python expressions with the datetime module to parse and reformat your strings into a consistent format that Convert Temporal Field can then easily process.
- Example Python expression in Calculate Field:
```
import datetime
def parse_date(date_string):
    try:
        # Try a common format first
        return datetime.datetime.strptime(date_string, '%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S')
    except ValueError:
        try:
            # Try another common format
            return datetime.datetime.strptime(date_string, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
        except ValueError:
            # Handle other formats or return None for unparseable strings
            return None
```
  Then call this function in the expression: parse_date(!Your_Text_Field!). This would create a new date field directly, potentially bypassing Convert Temporal Field for complex cases. However, Convert Temporal Field is simpler for standard formats.
Verify Results: After running the tool, always open the attribute table and inspect the new date field to ensure the conversion was successful and that dates are interpreted correctly.

By leveraging the Convert Temporal Field geoprocessing tool, you can effectively transform your textual and numeric date information into usable date fields, unlocking the full temporal capabilities of ArcGIS Pro.