From: Steven Jenkins <steven.jenkins@...>
Date: 2005-02-24T06:34:07+09:00
Subject: Re: parsing a time in a specific timezone

Paul Brannan wrote:
> I can use Time.parse to parse a timestamp in the local timezone, e.g.:
> 
> irb(main):001:0> require 'time'
> => true
> irb(main):002:0> t = Time.parse('20050103-14:31:26')
> => Mon Jan 03 14:31:26 EST 2005
> 
> But how can I parse the above timestamp in a timezone other than the
> local timezone (e.g. I want the method to assume that the timestamp is
> in UTC)?

ENV['TZ'] = 'UTC'

or even easier, append a Z to the string:

$ irb
irb(main):001:0> require 'time'
=> true
irb(main):002:0> Time.parse('20050103-14:31:26')
=> Mon Jan 03 14:31:26 PST 2005
irb(main):003:0> Time.parse('20050103-14:31:26Z')
=> Mon Jan 03 14:31:26 UTC 2005

Steve