1 files changed, 23 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/unit_trace/viz/util.py b/unit_trace/viz/util.py
index 430063b..12d65f4 100644
--- a/unit_trace/viz/util.py
+++ b/unit_trace/viz/util.py
@@ -63,6 +63,29 @@ class Sec(TimeUnit):
         if time is None: return time
         return time * 1000000000.0
 
+def parse_time(text):
+    # perhaps the user didn't put a space between the number and
+    # the time unit
+    for i, char in enumerate(text):
+        if char == ' ':
+            break
+        elif char.isalpha():
+            text = text[0:i] + ' ' + text[i:]
+            break
+
+    tokens = text.split()
+
+    if len(tokens) > 2 or len(tokens) == 0:
+        raise ValueError
+
+    unit = None
+    if len(tokens) == 2:
+        unit = parse_unit(tokens[1])
+    else:
+        unit = MilliSec()
+
+    return unit.native_to_nsec(float(tokens[0]))
+
 def parse_unit(expr):
     expr = expr.strip().lower()