# Formatting to seperate incoming data strings?

**URL:** <https://forums.losant.com/t/formatting-to-seperate-incoming-data-strings/2530>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** dashboard\
**Created:** [January 13, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/formatting-to-seperate-incoming-data-strings/2530 "2020-01-13T16:13:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RWB](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/rwb/32/2205_2.png) [@RWB](https://forums.losant.com/u/RWB)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/formatting-to-seperate-incoming-data-strings/2530/1 "2020-01-13T16:13:37Z")

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I’m using the code below in a workflow that splits and imports data sent out via the [Particle.io](http://Particle.io) integration.

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/getstructure/original/2X/5/574191a2f34ff1570f1459df5b5fccba5169bb1d.png)

I’m splitting incoming data using the “:” Semicolon.

Can I change the Semicolon “:” to something else like the asterisk “\*” ?

The reason I ask is because I’m trying to import a formatted time string but the semicolon’s in the time cause issues with the importing since I’m separating the imported string data via Semicolons.

Separating data in a string via something other than the Semicolon should fix the problem.

I’m currently importing time in UNIX format but don’t see any easy way to reformat that to a human-readable format.

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**Author:** ![JuliaKempf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/juliakempf/32/2446_2.png) [@JuliaKempf](https://forums.losant.com/u/JuliaKempf)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/formatting-to-seperate-incoming-data-strings/2530/2 "2020-01-13T17:25:40Z")

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Hi @RWB,

If you were to have data come in separated by asterisks, you would still be able to utilize `split` and keep your timestamp together in the Function Node. 😄

Thanks!  
Julia

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RWB](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/rwb/32/2205_2.png) [@RWB](https://forums.losant.com/u/RWB)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/formatting-to-seperate-incoming-data-strings/2530/3 "2020-01-13T17:42:49Z")

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Perfect!

And while were on the Time subject, is there a easy to use piece of code that would allow a simple conversion of UNIX time to a more easy to understand format?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuliaKempf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/juliakempf/32/2446_2.png) [@JuliaKempf](https://forums.losant.com/u/JuliaKempf)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/formatting-to-seperate-incoming-data-strings/2530/5 "2020-01-13T18:44:22Z")

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Hi @RWB,

I should have included previously, you can also use the [String Node](https://docs.losant.com/workflows/logic/string) with the [split operation](https://docs.losant.com/workflows/logic/string/#split) if you would like to use it in place of the Function Node. 😄

You can easily format dates using the [Date/Time Node](https://docs.losant.com/workflows/logic/date-time/), and you can also specify a [format](https://docs.losant.com/workflows/logic/date-time/#format) using [Moment.js](https://momentjs.com/docs/#/displaying/format/) (such as `YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ssZ`) and even a timezone.

Thanks!  
Julia