Convertin mysql timestamp

[webnewone]

Hi!

I have a form that takes user input and adds it to a mysql databse with a timestamp. You know the stuff . . .

$query = "INSERT INTO $table(ID, headline, updatetext, postedby, timestamp)
VALUES('', '$headline', '$updatetext', '$postedby', NOW())";

The restult a time format like this:

20030125002234

How do I turn it into a freindly date?

Thanks!

[tshafer]

how do you want it?

only date or date & time?

[tshafer]

here you go: do whatever with it 🙂

<?php

function parse_tstamp($int_tstamp, $str_format)
{
	// make sure the timestamp is entered & is 14 characters...
	if ( !isset($int_tstamp) ) { return ('false'); }
	if (strlen($int_tstamp) < 14) { return ('false'); }

// create the date...
$day   = substr($int_tstamp, 6, 2);
$month = substr($int_tstamp, 4, 2);
$year  = substr($int_tstamp, 0, 4);

$hour = substr($int_tstamp, 8, 2);
$min = substr($int_tstamp, 10, 2);
$sec = substr($int_tstamp, 12);
$ampm = 'pm';

// create the month & day...
if     ($month == 1)  { $month = 'January';   }
elseif ($month == 2)  { $month = 'February';  }
elseif ($month == 3)  { $month = 'March';     }
elseif ($month == 4)  { $month = 'April';     }
elseif ($month == 5)  { $month = 'May';       }
elseif ($month == 6)  { $month = 'June';      }
elseif ($month == 7)  { $month = 'July';      }
elseif ($month == 8)  { $month = 'August';    }
elseif ($month == 9)  { $month = 'September'; }
elseif ($month == 10) { $month = 'October';   }
elseif ($month == 11) { $month = 'November';  }
elseif ($month == 12) { $month = 'December';  }

// create the day...
if ($day < 10 && substr($day, 0, 1) != '0') { $day = '0' . $day; }

// create the 3 time-parts...
if ($hour < 10 && substr($hour, 0, 1) != '0') { $hour = '0' . $hour;	}
if ($hour < 12 || $hour == 24) { $ampm = 'am'; }
if ($hour > 12) { $hour = ($hour - 12); }

if ($min < 10 && substr($min, 0, 1) != '0')   { $min = '0' . $min;	}
if ($sec < 10 && substr($sec, 0, 1) != '0')   { $sec = '0' . $sec;	}

// return it in the specified format...
$timestamp = sprintf($str_format, $day, $month, $year, $hour, $min, $sec, $ampm);
return ($timestamp);
}

$tstamp = '20030124201829';
$format = "The date is %2\$s %1\$d, %3\$d & the time is %4\$d:%5\$d:%6\$d%7\$s.";
echo parse_tstamp($tstamp, $format);

?>

returns

The date is January 24, 2003 & the time is 8:18:29pm.

[JakesSA]

@ tshafer, you got to be joking!

@ webnewone - its much easier to display you date this way:

// pull the timestamp from the db - say variable $x

echo date("j of F Y, \a\\t g.i.a", $x);

that should return your date in question!

[tshafer]

nope. that only works with Unix timestamps.

[xblue]

😕
It might be slightly more efficient to format the date within a select query whenever you want to display it.

SELECT DATE_FORMAT(date_field, '%Y-%m-%d') AS formatted_date FROM table_name

--> 2003-01-25

see mysql docs for available format options:
http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/Date_and_time_functions.html

[JakesSA]

Its seems to working on my XP box, why is that?

[tshafer]

??? I tried it on my XP box to make sure, and it didn't work.

[JakesSA]

I must have a dodgy XP, if it spits the time out for me. I better phone microsoft, and tell them about it.