Re: problem converting strings to timestamps with time zone

Tom Lane wrote:
> Edward Ross <efrossuhl@gmail.com> writes:
>> Here is a sandbox example of what I mean.
> 
>> CREATE TABLE test_0
>> (
>>     string_value varchar(2047),
>>     timestamp_value timestamp with time zone
>> );
> 
>> insert into test_0
>>        (string_value)
>>     values
>>        ('2010-03-12 17:06:21-0800'),
>>        ('2009-08-14 16:47:40+0500'),
>>        ('2010-03-22 22:45:59-0400');
> 
>> As expected, select * from test_0; , produces the following:
> 
>> string_value                timestamp_value
>> 2010-03-12 17:06:21-0800    <null>
>> 2009-08-14 16:47:40+0500    <null>
>> 2010-03-22 22:45:59-0400    <null>
> 
>> I would like to parse the strings into their equivalent timestamps
>> and put them in the timestamp_value column.
> 
>> My attempt, so far, to update the table:
> 
>> update value
>>     set
>>     timestamp_value =
>>     to_timestamp(string_value, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS-XXXX');
> 
> Forget to_timestamp; just cast the string to timestamptz.  The
> regular timestamp input converter will handle that format fine.
> 
>             regards, tom lane
> 

That worked great.

Thanks very much,

Edward Ross