Timestamp help!

[dennismonsewicz]

Is there a way to create a current timestamp and record the timestamp into a database?

[conker87]

Look for date() in the manual.

[dennismonsewicz]

aight thanks will do

[BlueSkyIS]

if you want a timestamp, use time(). Most databases provide a field of type timestamp. In MySQL, simply set a field as timestamp and it will automatically update with each record insert/update. if you want to insert a timestamp into MySQL, you can use the MySQL NOW() function.

[conker87]

Can you convert the unix_timestamp into the current time/date (in DD-MM-YYYY HH:MM format)? And visa versa?

[BlueSkyIS]

yes. the default second argument for date() is the current unix timestamp. strtotime() works well converting the other direction.

[dennismonsewicz]

Thanks for everyone's help!

[conker87]

Hmm, never knew that, I guess using time() would also save on db size..

[BlueSkyIS]

i don't know for sure, but my guess is that MySQL stores all dates and times in timestamp form but converts the timestamp to whatever field type is in use, e.g., date, date-time, time, etc. so i'm not sure changing a date field to a timestamp field would have any measurable effect.

[dennismonsewicz]

In setting up the field for the timestamp in MySQL do i need to tell the timestamp field to auto_increment or will it do it on its own? I am using PHPmyadmin

[conker87]

It'll be in one of the drop-down lists, I can't remember which one it ism but it's called 'ON UPDATE CURRENT TIMESTAMP'.

[dennismonsewicz]

Found it! Thanks again!