Re: timestamp data type?

On Thu, 2003-05-22 at 07:51, psql novice wrote:
> Is there a timestamp data type that will automatically update the date
> and time when a record gets inserted/updated. I know MySQL has this
> feature, i was wondering if postgresql had a equivalent data type
>
> MySQL Doc
> "The TIMESTAMP column type provides a type that you can use to
> automatically mark INSERT or UPDATE operations with the current date
> and time."

There is no type that does this.

The way to do it on INSERT is:

CREATE TABLE xxx (
   ts TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
   ...);

This can be overridden if the insert provides a value for the field.

If you need it not to be overrideable or to be changed on update as
well, you need a trigger to fire BEFORE UPDATE OR INSERT

--
Oliver Elphick                                Oliver.Elphick@lfix.co.uk
Isle of Wight, UK                             http://www.lfix.co.uk/oliver
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