insert date null by default

[akaki]

Hi,
I have 2 fields named "orderdate" & "finishdate' as 'DATETIME' in my database table named "order".
Now when any customer place order, then current datetime insert in table in "orderdate" field.
But at the same time,"finishdate" should not current datetime. It will be null/blank.
It will be update after finish. I tried with this query while place order 1st time:

$orderdate = date('Y-m-d h:i:s');
$q = "INSERT INTO order (orderdate, finishdate) VALUES('$orderate',' ')";
$r = mysql_query($q);

But no data inserting in database. I think problem with the query. Plz help.
Thanks.

[blackhorse]

in your table design, you should set up the finishdate to be default null. and your query will be

$q = "INSERT INTO order (orderdate) VALUES(NOW())";

Or if you cannot change the table design.

$q = "INSERT INTO order (orderdate, finishdate) VALUES('$orderate', NULL)";

I think that will do the work