TimeStamp Problems!

[presley2]

Hi,
I want to create an auto creation date and update date in my mysql table. I am using the "MySQL Cookbook" approach, using the TIMESTAMP field which basically is:
- create 2 new fields in the table (t_create and t_update)
- both NULL
- when a new record is created they both will register a common timestamp
- when the record is modified the t_update will change, buit not the t_create

sounds EZ---funny I got it to work on another table --but not this one!

My problem is:
1) I can create 1 NULL TIMESTAMP field --using PhPMyAdmin 2.6. ---the 2nd NULL TIMESTAMP field auto enters '0000000000000000' not NULL in the field on creation---I try to change the field to NULL ...but it automatically reverts NULL to '0000000'...why?
2) My results are: one correct TIMESTAMP field ---changes with each modiifcation and one TIMESTAMP field which stays at '000000000' all the time
3) Funny---When "browsing" the record in PhPMyAdmin you are allowed to change the parameters of the TIMESTAMP field ---in that record only---and then I can get a TIMESTAMP (create and update) in both fields --- but only manually and after a new record is entered

I think this is a very EZ problem ---that is related to my misunderstanding about formatting TIMESTAMP fields and using PhpMyAdmin .....I hope to hear from you !

Thanks,
Newbie Jim

[Roger_Ramjet]

The answer is in the manual, and does depend on what version you are running. Better you find out what version you have and then RTFM cos it would take me as many words to explain it as they use there.

PS you can reduce the problem by explicitly updating the UPDATE column to NOW() in the update query that you use. But you still need to rtfm to understand what is happening and why only 1 timestamp column ever updates automatically.