Error converting a string in to datetime object

Question

I am reading a line from a text file. It contains the date in YYYY-MM-DD format. I am trying to convert it to datetime object so as to find the difference between two dates.

l = datetime.strptime(last_execution_date,"%Y-%m-%d").date()

Its throwing an error:ValueError: unconverted data remains:

But when I am using below its working perfectly fine

l = datetime.strptime('2019-01-25',"%Y-%m-%d").date()

My complete code looks something like this:

def incoming_mails_duration():
   f = open('last_script_execution_time.txt', 'r')
   last_execution_date = f.readline()
   print(last_execution_date)
   print(type(last_execution_date))
   l = datetime.strptime(last_execution_date,"%Y-%m-%d").date()
   print(l)
   print(type(l))
   present_date = date.today()
   delta_days = abs((present_date - l).days)
   f.close()

Why I am getting the above error when I am passing the string as variable read from a file ?

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

1

It is because f.readline() returns string with \n in the end. You either have to strip the newline character or include it inside strptime format argument.

Solution 1:

last_execution_date = f.readline().strip()

Solution 2:

l = datetime.strptime(last_execution_date,"%Y-%m-%d\n").date() # Note \n

Note

Also it is good practice to open files with with statement. This is a safe way to handle files. File will be safely closed even if exception occurred inside with block.

with open(filepath) as f:
    for line in f:
        # Work with line here
        pass

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Jan 31, 2019 at 13:30

Miroslav Machura

765 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Error converting a string in to datetime object

1 Answer 1

Solution 1:

Solution 2:

Note

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Solution 1:

Solution 2:

Note

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related