Date -format Info In Expressions?

[smeghead]

Hi all. First off, put hands up Im a complete noob so go easy on me.

I have a quick question. When you want to use expressions in script editor, how do you get information thats like date -format?

For example, Ive got this which is a part of a clock:

CODE
//Used to set the minute hand position.

int $minute = date -format "mm";
int $rotateMinute = $minute * -6;
setAttr "minuteHand.rotateZ" $rotateMinute;

The expression is where Im struggling.

CODE
//Expression which makes the minute hand move.

expression -o minuteHand -s "minuteHand.rotateZ = $rotateMinute + (time / -10)";

^This is what I want, but the syntax is wrong because of $rotateMinute. It works without a procedure, but with a procedure it doesnt work.

So my question is, how can I replace $rotateMinute in the expression to have real life minutes or is there a way for the expression to access $rotateMinute? Thanks in advance.

[joojaa]

Well simply put you don't. Theres no sane reason to do this but just for humor you could do:

CODE
expression -o minuteHand -s "minuteHand.rotateZ =((int)date -format \"mm\" )";

But i think you meant to do:

QUOTE
expression -o minuteHand -s ("minuteHand.rotateZ = "+$rotateMinute +"+ (time / -10)");

QUOTE
^This is what I want, but the syntax is wrong because of $rotateMinute. It works without a procedure, but with a procedure it doesnt work.

Your example contains no single procedure.

[joojaa]

Well simply put you don't. Theres no sane reason to do this but just for humor you could do:

CODE
expression -o minuteHand -s "minuteHand.rotateZ =((int)date -format \"mm\" )";

or

expression -o minuteHand -s ("minuteHand.rotateZ = "+date -format \"mm\" +"+ (time / -10)");

But i think you meant to do:

QUOTE
expression -o minuteHand -s ("minuteHand.rotateZ = "+$rotateMinute +"+ (time / -10)");

QUOTE
^This is what I want, but the syntax is wrong because of $rotateMinute. It works without a procedure, but with a procedure it doesnt work.

Your example contains no single procedure.

[smeghead]

Ohhh! I tried something similar to that but my noobishness meant syntax errors.

It works like a charm. Thank you Joojaa, hugely appreciate it!