Times: 12 h (a.m., p.m.) versus 24 h

Question

We have just completed our first guidebook project (Northern Portugal) from German to English. Deepl has made this work a lot easier for us. But we had to fiddle endlessly with the conversion of the times.
For our next project (Lisbon), I tend to leave the 24-hour data as it is. An Englishman or an American will have to get used to the different time indication on his trip to Europe anyway and I think an indication in the 24 h format would even make it easier for him.

If it has to stay with a.m., p.m., what are the possibilities in Trados?

Many thanks

Paul · Answer

Michael Müller 
 It should be no problem if you're using the 2021 version. There are various pre-sets, probably depending on your target language, but you can create your own anyway:

Alison Field · Answer

Michael M&uuml;ller 
 Hi Michael, 
 I suspect that Paul probably has to remain impartial on this as it could be considered a matter of opinion and/or context. 
 I am British, 62 and a linguistic perfectionist. I use the English language eloquently and accurately. I enjoy using the 24h format. Indeed, I prefer it to a.m. and p.m. because there is no misinterpretation likely when one says 19:00 as opposed to seven o'clock, which could be morning or evening. 
 Surprisingly, my 32-year-old daughter doesn't always understand me when I use the 24h clock to let her know when we will be doing something. This does not change my opinion that in the UK it is totally acceptable. Indeed, we see it everywhere. At airports, train stations and on bus timetables our journeys are always defined by the 24h clock. 
 Therefore my answer to your question is YES, an indication in the 24h clock is acceptable - especially as Lisbon time would, I'm sure, be indicated thus. 
 All the best, 
 Ali

Paul · Answer

Alison Field 
 Alison Field said: I suspect that Paul probably has to remain impartial on this as it could be considered a matter of opinion and/or context. 
 Well.... I'm nearly 60, and I use the English language colloquially ;-) But I was in the military for a while and have a definite preference for the 24 hour clock. So I'd go with that!

Paul · Answer

Beatriz de Vega 
 Beatriz de Vega said: Is there a way to change the capital PM in the example you give for p.m.? 
 I'd say no... not even in 2022 since the time settings you have control over are managed with a mask: 
 
 So adding tt to the end introduces the meridiem, but it's always uppercase... probably unless you change the windows settings. I had a play with it and if I escape the m (see screenshot below) then I can force a p.m. to the end: 
 
 However... before we get excited, I tested it as I doubted this would even work, and of course it doesn't! So I think the only way to set this is via the window settings. 
 I'd recommend you create an idea for this though since being able to have greater control over these settings, a bit like the Regex AutoSuggest Provider (where you could do this), is very desirable I think. 
 The regex autosuggest provider will be available on the appstore soon as we are going to use the opensource project the developer provided to update his apps. So if you want an interactive solution that will do the job.

Trados Studio > 1. Trados Studio

Times: 12 h (a.m., p.m.) versus 24 h