Is there a work-around for the lack of a DATE-only MSSQL data type?

badgoat

I had my code working perfectly for MySQL and then my boss decides to swing his weight around and force all code to be written for MSSQL (without even understanding MySQL)

In MySQL I used a DATE data-type, and it appears that there is no such animal in MSSQL. I am left with trying to figure out how to use the DATETIME data-type, when all I need is the DATE portion.

Is there a way to strip the time part of the DATETIME data-type from being returned? When I echo the variable which enters the date info, it returns as "Sep 23 2005 12:00AM", when I don't really want to see the time...

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

toplay

Use CONVERT() as it shows in this article:
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/2197931

FYI:
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/2216011

hth.

badgoat

Thank you kindly! Checking them out now

toplay

You're welcome.

Just a thought: You might want to use a database abstract layer class like ADOdb which supports MySQL and MS SQL (and others). That way your boss can keep switching his mind as much as he wants, and you won't have to change your code (or hardly). Check it out at:

http://adodb.sourceforge.net

🙂

badgoat

I'll take a look at that as well. Someone else mentioned that site as well a few months ago when I was feeling rather n00bish still.. I'll take a second look now that I feel more comfortable with my abilities.

(imagine the pit in my stomach when my boss told me that the 40,000+ lines of code I wrote had to be re-tooled for MSSQL.. DATETIME is my last hurdle!)

toplay

Ouch! yeah, that's a lot of code. That's why it's good to use something like adodb from the start.

I keep around my handy SQL pocket guide which covers MySQL, MS SQL, Oracle, and DB2:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/sqlpr/index.html

The guide tells me that there are these functions to help with your date problem:

CONVERT()
DATENAME()
DATEPART()
DAY()
MONTH()
YEAR()

Good luck.