Setting a DATETIME table field and displaying it in a different format

[ShoeLace1291]

In the past to insert the date that the row was inserted, I would just use varchar fields and use the server date and time in a text input in the form.  I have heard that it is better to use DATETIME over varchar.  The only problem is that I don't know how to set the DATETIME fields with the current time and then pull it from the table in a different format that sql uses.  For example, if my datetime is 2007-05-02 19:48:31, I want to display it as 7:48 PM on May 2nd, 2007.  How would I do this?

[trq]

In the past to insert the date that the row was inserted, I would just use varchar fields

 

Real bad idea. This disables the ability to search by date / time.

 

For example, if my datetime is 2007-05-02 19:48:31, I want to display it as 7:48 PM on May 2nd, 2007.  How would I do this?

 

Have a look at MySql's DATE_FORMAT function.