Re: to_char(interval) --- done?

On Tue, Mar 25, 2003 at 09:28:09AM -0800, Josh Berkus wrote:
> Karel,
> 
> >  If I see this I must agree with Peter that to_char() is something
> >  other than "interval" to "interval-as-string" convertor. The current
> >  code use date/time as complex of date/time information _based_ on
> >  calendar practice --
> >  The other words: current to_char(interval) is interval to calendar
> >  date/time convertor.
> 
> Currently, yes.   The reason why I'm advocating for a change is:
> 
> 1) I can't imagine of what use the current behavior could possibly be.  Is 
> there anyone at all using the current output of to_char(interval)?
IMHO nobody use it -- maybe we can keep it in sources for 7.4 andmark it in docs as deprecated and remove it in 7.5.
> 2) to_char() is also used for converting numeric values to strings.   It is 
> not in some way tied to date/time from a schema perspective, although it may 
> be codewise.
The date/time and numbers formatting share parser only. The currentto_char(interval) is 20 lines of code only.

> >  I think we can do with the current to_char(interval):
> >
> >     a) maintain it as "interval" to "calendar date/time string" convertor,
> >     b) if nobody wants to use it as a) we can delete it from sources
> >        and don't waste our time with it and use our time to real
> >        "interval" convertor.
> 
> This sounds reasonable to me.  I'll even do a survey on the SQL list to see if 
> anyone there is using the current behavior.
I want to write new library "libformattig", because I need to_char()features and some new extensions in the others
projects-- it meansin 7.5 will new to_char() code. The current code works without bugs, but it is not ideal code.
 
   Karel

-- Karel Zak  <zakkr@zf.jcu.cz>http://home.zf.jcu.cz/~zakkr/