c++ - Parse failure using Boost datetime library with time zone string -

i'm trying parse date/time string in custom format using boost's date time library. format i'm trying use rather unusual because includes posix time zone description string. docs library clearly state there flag (%zp) usable both input , output handles posix time zone string. value i'm trying parse coming web browser, , rather write js perform transformation specified in zone string , send server in utc, i'd rather server-side (since boost should easily). wouldn't posting here if worked. code throws boost::bad_lexical_cast value of "source type value not interpreted target".

using namespace boost::posix_time; using namespace boost::local_time; using namespace boost::gregorian;  std::istringstream ss("1989-11-09t15:30:42.005;pst-8pdt,m3.2.0,m11.1.0"); ss.exceptions(std::ios_base::failbit); local_time_input_facet* facet = new local_time_input_facet("%y-%m-%dt%h:%m:%s%f;%zp"); ss.imbue(std::locale(ss.getloc(), facet));  local_date_time ldt(not_a_date_time);  ss >> ldt; // parse  std::cout << ldt.to_string(); 

however, if replace format string "%y-%m-%dt%h:%m:%s%f;", parse succeeds fine (of course outputs value in wrong time zone).

any idea i'm doing wrong? docs %zp flag don't have example, i'm not sure how it's supposed used.

i think format string should this: %y-%m-%dt%h:%m:%s *;%zp %s * match seconds , fractional seconds. change, above code runs, bizarely though, output is:

1989-nov-09 15:30:42.005000 st

not sure why says st rather pst, timezone information parsed correctly, if change date example nov-01, report pdt.

edit: description of time zone object here.

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okay, messing around this, appears parsing error caused presence of ;, removing original string such becomes:

std::istringstream ss("1989-10-16t15:30:42.005 pst-8pdt,m3.2.0,m10.2.0"); 

and changing format string to:

local_time_input_facet* facet = new local_time_input_facet("%y-%m-%d %h:%m:%s %zp"); 

correctly reports:

1989-oct-16 15:30:42.005000 pst 

if change input string again to:

std::istringstream ss("1989-10-16t15:30:42.005 pst-8pdt,m3.2.0,m11.1.0"); 

the output again correct:

1989-oct-16 15:30:42.005000 pdt 

this tells me is indeed honouring timezone information embedded in string... interesting question why barfing if there ;?

further update, appears input string can contain alphanumerics, characters set .:-, , spaces - after fractional bits - i.e. cannot separate timezone information stuff character other i've listed above (it's not exhaustive, don't have time test of them!)