Re: auto update dates

> Hi Joel.
>
> [For other readers: I'm trying to learn how to update the modified date,
> time and timestamp fields in my database - I've deleted the old parts of
> the mail as it was getting too long.]
>
> Thanks a stack for your mail. I've just about got it working! I have a
> problem with time typing - if I make this function to just update the
> date it does not work.
>
> create function update_date_time() returns opaque as
>     'begin
>         new.d_modified = current_date;
>         new.t_modified = current_time;
>         new.ts_modified = current_timestamp;
>     return new;
>     end' language plpgsql;
>
> create trigger ideas_update_date_time
>     before update
>     on ideas
>     for each row execute procedure update_date_time();
>
> brandf=> update ideas set title = 'three' where title ~ 'one';
> 	NOTICE:  Error occurred while executing PL/pgSQL function
> 	update_date_time
> 	NOTICE:  line 3 at assignment
> 	ERROR:  Bad time external representation '16:11:45.820720+01'

current_time returns timezone information, but you're trying to store this
in a field that is time w/o timezone information. either coerce this data
yourself, or make the field hold timezone info.

Better question, though: why are you storing the date, the time, and the
timestamp? Much easier to simply store the timestamp. You can always get the
date & time from that. This will save you space _and_ time. (Plus, your
current problem would become irrelevant).

- J.

Joel BURTON | joel@joelburton.com | joelburton.com | aim: wjoelburton
Knowledge Management & Technology Consultant