---
product: Chilkat
product_version: 11.7.0
language: pascal
language_label: Lazarus Pascal
class: DtObj
license: free
deprecated: false
reference_html: https://www.chilkatsoft.com/refdoc/pascal_DtObjRef.html
---
# Chilkat DtObj — Lazarus Pascal — v11.7.0

> Chilkat 11.7.0 · language=pascal · class=DtObj
> Other versions: replace `11.7.0` in this URL. Other languages: `https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/<lang>/classes/DtObj.md`.
> Language-wide rules (install, unlock, error model, strings/bytes): `https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/pascal/guide.md`.

## Purpose

**Represent a date/time as simple editable fields.**

`Chilkat.DtObj` is a lightweight date/time value object used by Chilkat methods that need to pass or return individual date and time fields. It stores values such as year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, along with a flag indicating whether the value represents UTC or local time. It also provides a compact serialization format for saving and restoring the date/time value.

**Simple date fields**

Store and edit the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second as individual properties.

**UTC or local time**

Use the UTC flag to indicate whether the stored fields represent UTC or local time.

**Struct tm compatibility**

Use alternate month and year properties when working with `struct tm`-style date/time conventions.

**Serialize and restore**

Save and restore the object using Chilkat's compact internal serialized date/time representation.

**Used by other classes**

Pass `DtObj` values to Chilkat methods that require explicit date/time fields or return date/time information.

**Small and focused**

Use this class as a simple container rather than a full date/time calculation or timezone-conversion engine.

**Common pattern:** Create or receive a `DtObj`, set or read the individual date/time fields, check whether the value is UTC or local time, and pass the object to another Chilkat method. Use serialization only when the date/time value needs to be saved and restored in Chilkat's compact internal format.

For an extended overview, see [DtObj Class Overview](https://www.chilkatsoft.com/dtobj_class_overview.asp).

## Object creation, unlocking and error handling

**Create / Free**

```pascal
uses
  Chilkat.DtObj;

var
  obj: TDtObj;
begin
  obj := TDtObj.Create;
  try
    if not obj.IsValid then
      raise Exception.Create('Failed to create a TDtObj instance.');

    // ... use obj ...

  finally
    obj.Free;
  end;
end;
```

`constructor Create;`

Allocates the underlying CkDtObj object and returns a new TDtObj instance. Simply adding **Chilkat.DtObj** to the unit's `uses` clause is enough to locate and bind to the Chilkat shared library (DLL / .so / .dylib) at runtime — no separate load step is required. Check `obj.IsValid` after calling `Create`; it is `False` if the underlying library could not be found/loaded or the object could not be allocated (for example, when unlicensed).

`destructor Destroy; override;`

Every TDtObj created by calling `Create` should eventually be released by calling `.Free` (inherited from `TObject`). The destructor automatically disposes the underlying CkDtObj handle. A native (unmanaged) memory leak occurs if the object is never freed.

Call `Global.UnlockBundle` once at the start of the program, before using this or any other Chilkat class. Any string unlocks a fully functional 30-day trial; a purchased unlock code is used in production. See `guide.md` for the exact code in Lazarus Pascal.

## Members common to every Chilkat class

Documented once per language in `common-members.md`; listed here so this page is self-contained.

| Property | Signature | Access | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `DebugLogFilePath` | `property DebugLogFilePath: string read GetDebugLogFilePath write SetDebugLogFilePath;` | read/write | If set to a file path, this property logs the LastErrorText of each Chilkat method or property call to the specified file. |
| `LastErrorHtml` | `property LastErrorHtml: string read GetLastErrorHtml;` | read-only | Provides HTML-formatted information about the last called method or property. |
| `LastErrorText` | `property LastErrorText: string read GetLastErrorText;` | read-only | Provides plain text information about the last called method or property. |
| `LastErrorXml` | `property LastErrorXml: string read GetLastErrorXml;` | read-only | Provides XML-formatted information about the last called method or property. |
| `LastMethodSuccess` | `property LastMethodSuccess: Boolean read GetLastMethodSuccess write SetLastMethodSuccess;` | read/write | Indicates the success or failure of the most recent method call: `True` means success, `False` means failure. |
| `VerboseLogging` | `property VerboseLogging: Boolean read GetVerboseLogging write SetVerboseLogging;` | read/write | If set to `True`, then the contents of LastErrorText (or LastErrorXml, or LastErrorHtml) may contain more verbose information. |
| `Version` | `property Version: string read GetVersion;` | read-only | Version of the component/library, such as "10.1.0" |

## Member index

| Member | Kind | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| `Day` | property, read/write | `property Day: Integer read GetDay write SetDay;` |
| `Hour` | property, read/write | `property Hour: Integer read GetHour write SetHour;` |
| `Minute` | property, read/write | `property Minute: Integer read GetMinute write SetMinute;` |
| `Month` | property, read/write | `property Month: Integer read GetMonth write SetMonth;` |
| `Second` | property, read/write | `property Second: Integer read GetSecond write SetSecond;` |
| `StructTmMonth` | property, read/write | `property StructTmMonth: Integer read GetStructTmMonth write SetStructTmMonth;` |
| `StructTmYear` | property, read/write | `property StructTmYear: Integer read GetStructTmYear write SetStructTmYear;` |
| `Utc` | property, read/write | `property Utc: Boolean read GetUtc write SetUtc;` |
| `Year` | property, read/write | `property Year: Integer read GetYear write SetYear;` |
| `DeSerialize` | method | `procedure DeSerialize(const serializedDtObj: string);` |
| `Serialize` | method | `function Serialize: string;` |

## Properties

### DtObj.Day

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Day · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Day: Integer read GetDay write SetDay;
```

The day of the month. The valid values for this member are 1 through 31.

### DtObj.Hour

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Hour · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Hour: Integer read GetHour write SetHour;
```

The hour. The valid values for this member are 0 through 23.

### DtObj.Minute

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Minute · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Minute: Integer read GetMinute write SetMinute;
```

The minute. The valid values for this member are 0 through 59.

### DtObj.Month

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Month · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Month: Integer read GetMonth write SetMonth;
```

The month. The valid values for this member are 1 through 12 where 1 = January and 12 = December.

### DtObj.Second

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Second · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Second: Integer read GetSecond write SetSecond;
```

The second. The valid values for this member are 0 through 59.

### DtObj.StructTmMonth

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · StructTmMonth · property · read/write`

```pascal
property StructTmMonth: Integer read GetStructTmMonth write SetStructTmMonth;
```

The month. The valid values for this member are 0 through 11 where 0 = January and 11 = December.

### DtObj.StructTmYear

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · StructTmYear · property · read/write`

```pascal
property StructTmYear: Integer read GetStructTmYear write SetStructTmYear;
```

The year represented as the number of years since 1900.

### DtObj.Utc

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Utc · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Utc: Boolean read GetUtc write SetUtc;
```

`True` if this is a UTC time, otherwise `False` if this is a local time.

### DtObj.Year

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Year · property · read/write`

```pascal
property Year: Integer read GetYear write SetYear;
```

The year, such as 2012.

## Methods

### DtObj.DeSerialize

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · DeSerialize · method`

```pascal
procedure DeSerialize(const serializedDtObj: string);
```

Loads the date/time with a string having the format as produced by the Serialize method, which is a string of SPACE separated integers containing (in this order) year, month, day, hour, minutes, seconds, and a UTC flag having the value of 1/0.

### DtObj.Serialize

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · pascal · DtObj · Serialize · method`

```pascal
function  Serialize: string;
```

Serializes the date/time to a us-ascii string that can be imported at a later time via the DeSerialize method. The format of the string returned by this method is not intended to match any published standard. It is formatted to a string with SPACE separated integers containing (in this order) year, month, day, hour, minutes, seconds, and a UTC flag having the value of 1/0.

Returns True for success, False for failure.