Обсуждение: Date format problems

Hi im using the function below to insert data into my db; im using
now() to get the timestamptz, however when inserted in the db the format
seems to vary, the majority of the time its in the required European
style but does spontaniously change to various other type can anyone
throw any light on this problem. 

Further info:
DATESTYLE is currently set to European. 
db table type is 'timestamptz'

#######################################################################################

CREATE FUNCTION newmess(int4, text, varchar) RETURNS varchar AS '
DECLARE
userid ALIAS for $1;
message ALIAS for $2;
touser ALIAS for $3;
enttime DATETIME;
touserid INTEGER;
rdset BIT;
from VARCHAR;

BEGIN
rdset = 0;
touserid=(select id from users where lastname=touser);
enttime=(select now());
from=(select lastname from users where id = userid);
INSERT INTO CallLog.message(message, fromuser, touser, txtime, rd,
fromusern) values(message. userid, touserid, enttime, rdset, from);
END;
'  LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';

*********************************************************************************************************************

Im getting desperate, please help if you can, and thx to those that
replied to my previous mail.

Many Thanks in advance,

Kind Regards, Mark.  



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"Mark Roberts" <RoberM1@gosh.nhs.uk> writes:
> Hi im using the function below to insert data into my db; im using
> now() to get the timestamptz, however when inserted in the db the format
> seems to vary, the majority of the time its in the required European
> style but does spontaniously change to various other type can anyone
> throw any light on this problem. 

This is way too vague for anyone to help.  What PG version are you
using?  What is the actual datatype of the column you're inserting into?
Can you provide a specific example of a misformatted data value?
        regards, tom lane

Sure, sorry;  Im using postgres version 7.2.1, and the column data type
is 'timestamptz'
Data examples: 

13/02/04 12:35:27 appears in the column as 02/04/13 12:35:27, or
13/04/02 12:35:27

70% of the time it is inserted in the correct format. 

The function shown in previous email is called by a C++ Builder 5
program using the postgresSQL ODBC driver version 7.02.00.05 (Insight
Distribution Systems) 

Any other info required ?

Sorry for the stupid questions but im a bit of a n00b, no excuse I
guess, but I just cant figure out whats going on.

Thanks for all your efforts,

Kind Regards,

Mark.


>>> Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> 02/16/04 03:34pm >>>
"Mark Roberts" <RoberM1@gosh.nhs.uk> writes:
> Hi im using the function below to insert data into my db; im using
> now() to get the timestamptz, however when inserted in the db the
format
> seems to vary, the majority of the time its in the required European
> style but does spontaniously change to various other type can anyone
> throw any light on this problem. 

This is way too vague for anyone to help.  What PG version are you
using?  What is the actual datatype of the column you're inserting
into?
Can you provide a specific example of a misformatted data value?
        regards, tom lane

_______________________________________
Disclaimer: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

SECURITY WARNING RE: PATIENT OR OTHER CONFIDENTIAL DATA. Please note
that Internet E-mail is simply not a secure communication medium.
We strongly advise that you understand & observe this lack of security
when e-mailing us.

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for
the use of the individual to whom they are addressed.  If you have
received this email in error please notify your email administrator.

Any views or opinions are solely those of the author of this email
and do not represent those of Great Ormond Street Hospital for
Children NHS Trust unless specifically stated.

VIRUSES: This email message has been checked for the presence of
computer viruses by Sophos antivirus software.  However, this does
not guarantee that this email is free of viruses, and the recipient
should perform their own check. 

"Mark Roberts" <RoberM1@gosh.nhs.uk> writes:
> Sure, sorry;  Im using postgres version 7.2.1, and the column data type
> is 'timestamptz'
> Data examples: 

> 13/02/04 12:35:27 appears in the column as 02/04/13 12:35:27, or
> 13/04/02 12:35:27

> 70% of the time it is inserted in the correct format. 

Well, part of your confusion might be due to the assumption that it's an
insertion problem; that's not evident from what you've said.  The stored
representation of timestamptz is an absolute time count (seconds before
or after midnight 1/1/2000, IIRC) and there is no possibility of "wrong
field order" there.  So your problem is either that the timestamp input
converter interprets an ambiguous string incorrectly, or that the output
formatter is presenting the broken-down time in a format other than the
one you want.

In the particular example you gave (a plpgsql function inserting the
value of now()) into a table), I do not believe that the timestamptz
value returned from now() will ever get converted to textual form at
all, so it's not possible for an input interpretation error to occur.
What will hit disk is exactly the same time count now() gave back.

So my bet at this point is that what you have got is a variation in
output formatting style, and the only possible way for that to happen
is if you're not consistently setting the same DateStyle.  In recent
releases you can set DateStyle in postgresql.conf, but I think in 7.2
that did not work and you had to do something else to establish a
system-wide default for DateStyle.  Check the manual about runtime
configuration settings and postmaster switches.

If you have some entries in the column that are inserted by means
other than this plpgsql function, then it could be that you've got
input interpretation issues for those entries.  Again the answer is
most likely that you're not setting DateStyle consistently.

BTW, DateStyle is really two separate variables, one that controls
output format and one that controls the presumed order of MM,DD,YY
fields when the input is ambiguous.  (Ugly, I know ... it got that
way for historical reasons ...)  Be sure you are setting both parts.
        regards, tom lane

Tom Lane mentioned :
=> Check the manual about runtime
=> configuration settings and postmaster switches.

I use this :
export PGDATESTYLE=????

(????=ISO,European)

P.S. Is there something wrong with the date on the postgres mailing list machine?
All my mail from the list arrives with a date  of  : 16 Feb 2004

and hides the bottom of my e-mail folder.

Cheers
Stef

Mark Roberts wrote:
> Hi im using the function below to insert data into my db; im using
> now() to get the timestamptz, however when inserted in the db the format
> seems to vary, the majority of the time its in the required European
> style but does spontaniously change to various other type can anyone
> throw any light on this problem. 

Not sure what you mean here. Are you saying if you insert 5 timestamps 
in a row, the third comes out wrong, or that all from one client are 
wrong, or what?

> Further info:
> DATESTYLE is currently set to European. 
> db table type is 'timestamptz'

OK - first inspections seem OK. Are you sure no clients have the wrong 
datestyle set?

> 
> #######################################################################################
> 
> CREATE FUNCTION newmess(int4, text, varchar) RETURNS varchar AS '
> DECLARE
> userid ALIAS for $1;
> message ALIAS for $2;
> touser ALIAS for $3;
> enttime DATETIME;
> touserid INTEGER;
> rdset BIT;
> from VARCHAR;
> 
> BEGIN
> rdset = 0;
> touserid=(select id from users where lastname=touser);
> enttime=(select now());

Easier to say:  enttime := now();
Or, just to use now() in the query below and get rid of the variable 
altogether.

> from=(select lastname from users where id = userid);
> INSERT INTO CallLog.message(message, fromuser, touser, txtime, rd,
> fromusern) values(message. userid, touserid, enttime, rdset, from);
> END;
> '  LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';

Well, assuming this works at all (and I'm assuming you retyped it since 
there are some obvious syntax errors), it shouldn't be possible to 
insert the wrong timestamp. Whether European/American or Klingon format, 
now() is the current time at the server.

Can you show a sample select where the timestamp is incorrect, but the 
ones either side are fine? I assume there is some serial message_id 
column that should act as a clue.

--   Richard Huxton  Archonet Ltd