# Change node not replacing text
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013
**Category:** General
**Created:** [15 February 2021 10:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013 "2021-02-15T10:23:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@borpin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/borpin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 10:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/1 "2021-02-15T10:23:48Z")
I'm sure I am missing something obvious, but why isn't this working? Tried with and without quotes.
Output (and input)
I'm wondering if it is trying whole text match? I'm sure I have done this before.
---
### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 10:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/2 "2021-02-15T10:39:01Z")
It probably isn't a string, but a javascript date, which the debug node is helpfully displaying in a readable form. In a function node put
`node.warn(typeof msg.time)`
and see what it says.
Why do you need this? I can't imagine a use case.
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### Author:  [@borpin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/borpin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 11:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/3 "2021-02-15T11:39:24Z")
> [@Colin](#):
>
> Why do you need this? I can't imagine a use case.
Python does not convert times in the form 'Z' despite it being ISO standard as the `fromISO` method is the inverse of the `toISO` method and the `toISO` method does not generate a Z format just a +00:00 format.
> [@Colin](#):
>
> In a function node put `node.warn(typeof msg.time)` and see what it says.
Type Object so looks like you are correct (I think).
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### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 11:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/4 "2021-02-15T11:54:40Z")
That doesn't explain what your use case is. What are you doing with the timestamp after you have modified it?
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### Author:  [@borpin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/borpin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 11:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/5 "2021-02-15T11:57:41Z")
Sending it to another process that (might) use Python to manipulate the time. If it finds Z, Pyton assumes it is a local time/Date string. Not what I want.
How do I tell Javascript this is a time Object. It seems to helpfully know it isn't a string, but refuses to allow date/time methods on it ☹
Do I need to declare a new date object?
[edit]
Doh! a while since I have done Javascript - it is case sensitive.
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### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 12:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/6 "2021-02-15T12:05:11Z")
I think the question you need to ask is how to I convert a javascript Date into a string of the form you want.
You could use toISOString() and then change the Z as you have already tried, or I expect you could use node-red-contrib-moment. Probably several other ways.
I am astonished that Python will not handle an ISO date.
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### Author:  [@borpin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/borpin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 12:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/7 "2021-02-15T12:06:16Z")
> [@Colin](#):
>
> I am astonished that Python will not handle an ISO date.
It does handle ISO dates just not ones with Z as a suffix.
[edit]
Unless something has changed recently.
[edit2]
Thanks
```auto
msg.time = msg.time.toISOString().replace("Z", "+00:00");
```
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### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 12:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/8 "2021-02-15T12:10:04Z")
Google suggests that `python-dateutil` will do it.
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### Author:  [@borpin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/borpin)
#### Post date: [15 February 2021 13:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/9 "2021-02-15T13:19:33Z")
Yes I know about that package, but it is not a core package.
I'd rater always export data out of NR that is in a time format that cannot be misinterpreted. I mostly convert to an integer.
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [16 April 2021 13:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/change-node-not-replacing-text/41013/10 "2021-04-16T13:20:07Z")
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