Troubleshooting

The compiler cannot find ChronoKit#

For a source-based project, the compiler must be given the src/ directory, not the repository root. For example:

fpc "-FuC:\path\to\chronokit-fp\src" MyProgram.lpr

In Lazarus, open packages/lazarus/chronokit_fp.lpk, compile it, and select Use → Add to Project. Then confirm that ChronoKit appears in the project's uses clause.

Parsing does not match the input#

Pass the format that matches the input exactly. ChronoKit uses Free Pascal format tokens: mm is the month and nn is the minute.

Value := TChronoKit.ParseDateTime(
  '2026-08-10 09:30', 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:nn');

Avoid relying on the computer's regional settings for values shared between machines. Prefer an unambiguous form such as yyyy-mm-dd.

The formatted value is unexpected#

TDateTime combines a calendar date and a time. If a value has a time component, include it in the format when diagnosing the result:

WriteLn(TChronoKit.FormatDateTime(Value, 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:nn:ss'));

Use EncodeDate or TChronoKit.GetToday when the value should be a date at midnight.

Timezone results differ from a local time#

GetNow returns the computer's local wall-clock time. A conversion with SystemLocalToTimeZone is a separate operation that depends on the supplied target timezone and the platform's timezone data. Keep the timezone name with values whose intended timezone must be preserved by your application.

UTC is the only identifier guaranteed on both platforms. On Linux, install the system timezone database (commonly the tzdata package) and use supported IANA names such as Australia/Sydney. Windows uses Windows identifiers such as AUS Eastern Standard Time; the IANA name is not a portable alias.

An ambiguous local value occurs when clocks move backward, and a nonexistent value occurs when clocks move forward. The timezone contract requires ETimeZoneError instead of silently selecting an occurrence. Catch the exception rather than matching its message, and see the timezone contract for the exact operation semantics and boundary examples.

If the exception reports missing timezone data, install or repair the platform database. Linux normally provides it through the tzdata package. On Windows, ChronoKit reads the registered timezone catalog and its per-year dynamic rules. GetTimeZoneNames shows the exact identifiers available to the running program; do not substitute an IANA name on Windows or a Windows name on Linux.

The project does not compile#

ChronoKit-FP supports Free Pascal 3.2.2 or later. Lazarus is optional for source-based projects, but Lazarus 4.0 or later is the supported IDE path.

Run the repository's complete test suite to check a local build:

cd tests
fpc "-FU." "-Fu..\src" TestRunner.lpr
.\TestRunner.exe -a --format=plain

Pull requests run this suite and compile the shipped examples on Windows and Linux.