Data Entry + Date/Time

[obrienkev]

Hi all,

I want the user to register class times.

The date of class, time class begins, and time class ends must be registered.

How should this be done and what is the best way to ensure a standard format is used?

Thanks.

Kevin.

[bpat1434]

I would use a Timestamp. You can do it one of a few ways....

YOu can let PHP do the work with the date() function, and insert an actual UNIX timestamp into a database column (TEXT/VARCHAR). Or you can let mySQL do the work and create a date using date('format', mktime()) and then input that into a Date/Time field in MySQL.

The advantage to using mySQL is that you can let the server do all the comparison (if any). Plus, while in the database you can actually read the date, rather than looking at a string of numbers.

Here's a small bit of code for each:

<?php

// Insert just the timestamp
$strt_time = mktime($shour, $smin, 0, $smonth, $sday, $syear);
$end_time = mktime($ehour, $emin, 0, $emonth, $eday, $eyear);

// Run your query with $strt_time being the value of the start time/date
// and $end_time the value of the end date/time

// Insert a formatted date
$start = date('m d Y - h:m', mktime($shour, $smin, 0, $smonth, $sday, $syear));
$end = date('m d Y - h:m', mktime($ehour, $emin, 0, $emonth, $eday, $eyear));

// Run your query to insert them into the database in their respective spots.
?>

~Brett

[cahva]

Why not just use datetime field with database(assuming mysql)?
I would use that format. Also you wouldnt have to do any PHP-conversions when putting those dates in database.
eg.

$start_time = $syear.'-'.$smonth.'-'.$sday.' '.$shour.':'.$smin;
$end_time = $eyear.'-'.$emonth.'-'.$eday.' '.$ehour.':'.$emin;

[obrienkev]

Thanks guys.

So what should my input fields be?

[bpat1434]

Text, Javascript Date Chooser, Drop-downs... Anything you want.

~Brett