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Search for Date only in Timestamp field

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    Search for Date only in Timestamp field

    I am trying to search for only the date portion of a timestamp field in my Postgres backend from a search in a grid.

    I have read in the forum to make a separate column and search from that which would seem to work and makes sense.
    The following SQL works in Postgres, but does not in the Query portion of my grid and gives an error. I am assuming
    because it is Postgres specific.

    SELECT cid, empid, contactid, workorderid, deptid, categoryid, timestampin, timestampout, moddatetime,
    modempid, timestampin::date AS srchin, timestampout::date AS srchout
    FROM timesheet
    WHERE cid = :companyid

    If ::date is removed from the two columns, the sql statement works fine in Alpha but obviously contains the time portion which
    will then not search by date only from the grid search.

    Removing the ::date and changing the display format to date only does not work because I am assuming the background data
    is still in the full timestamp format.

    Looking down the road, I will also be limiting the record returned for reports in the same manner.

    Thanks for the help.

    #2
    Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

    Hi Andrew,
    Create a view in Postgres with your SQL statement and without the WHERE condition, then use the view in Alpha and filter using your where condition. I never worked with Postgres but I assume that :compnayid is a parameter or an argument, so you can pass that value as an argument in the A5 Query Builder.
    Edhy Rijo
    Progytech
    (Computer Consultants)
    The makers of CardTracking.Net
    www.progytech.com

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

      Thank you Edhy,

      I hadn't pursued this option because Postgres does not allow updates or deletes to views.

      I have javascript button setup to delete directly from the grid as well as a javascript button to open a dialog to edit an existing or enter a new record.

      Or, am I missing something obvious that would allow me to use your solution.


      Thanks.....

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

        I sent in a possible bug report since I have had a few minor problems with PostgreSQL and Alpha Five. This was Jerry Brightbill's response:

        .........

        You can't use native SQL syntax in the query SQL Statement. If you need to use native syntax that does not parse, you can use the onSQL server side events and create your own SQL string to execute. Since you need some query string in the query statement to get a list of fields, use a simplified version of your query that does parse, such as

        SELECT cid, empid, contactid, workorderid, deptid, categoryid, timestampin, timestampout, moddatetime, modempid, '' AS srchin, '' AS srchout
        FROM timesheet
        WHERE cid = 4

        or

        SELECT cid, empid, contactid, workorderid, deptid, categoryid, timestampin, timestampout, moddatetime, modempid, NULL AS srchin, NULL AS srchout
        FROM timesheet
        WHERE cid = 4

        Since that would return the same records as your native statement, you wouldn't' need to override the count using "onSQLCountQuery", but could use the "onSQLSelectQuery" to write you own execute to get the real data

        Jerry Brightbill

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

          Selwyn also responded with this:

          ............

          the grid expects portable sql.

          you can get away with native sql in a read only grid for the most part by specifying the 'stored procedure' option and then entering the native sql in the dialog.

          this should work, but only for read only grids.

          if the grid is updateable, then you will need to do a lot more work if you want to use native sql - you will need to specify code for all of the sql events, such as the refresh row query.

          in general, i would recommend that you stick to portable sql.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

            Hi Andrew,
            That sounds like a good solution in this case. Now any chance you could change the database to MS-SQL instead of Postgress? I ask because for one scenario this solution may be the only one, but if you have many grids or dialogs that would required the same solution, it could be a lot of work at some point.
            Edhy Rijo
            Progytech
            (Computer Consultants)
            The makers of CardTracking.Net
            www.progytech.com

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

              ......and finally found what worked for me after a day of google searching.

              SELECT cid, empid, contactid, workorderid, deptid, categoryid, timestampin, timestampout, moddatetime, modempid, DATE(timestampin) AS srchin
              FROM timesheet
              WHERE cid = :companyid

              The srchin column is hidden, but the search is run on that column with a date picker.

              The post I saw regarding the DATE() function native to PostgreSQL was that it was being deprecated.....but it worked with Postgres 9.1.
              The preferred method in PostgreSQL is SELECT field1::date from timesheet where ..... which returns the same as above, but is not compatible with portable sql in Alpha 5.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

                Hello, Edhy,

                Yes, if I had it to do all over again, I probably would have gone with MySQL, but I was totally new to Alpha 5 and any SQL backend, so chose Postgres because of concern of MySQL being bought by Oracle. I was coming from a Microsoft Access background and wanted as little as possible to do with Microsoft, so stayed away from MSSQL.

                Apple dropped mySQL a couple of years ago for PostgreSQL, so I thought I was in good company. I am too invested in PostgreSQL to change now. I hope you are wrong about problems down the road, because problems like these really brings things to a screeching halt.

                Thanks....

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Search for Date only in Timestamp field

                  Originally posted by askoog66 View Post
                  ... I hope you are wrong about problems down the road, because problems like these really brings things to a screeching halt.
                  I am no aware of any problems since I've never used Postgress, I've been working with MS-SQL server for over 5 years now, primarily with .Net WinForm applications and so far no complains about reliability, it is rock solid, 95% of the time I use MS-SQL Express and once installed and configured, never had to touch it, for some users I have to use the Standard license less than $1,000.00 but not limitations on hard drive space used and same thing, so far nothing to worry about.

                  MS-SQL is constantly improving specially its T-SQL code that allows you to build really complicated queries that can literally update many records from many tables in a single query in seconds. Like everything else in development, you have to invest on learning the tools and when I started working with Alpha Five, the learning curve was much easier because I simply create my views or stored procedures the way I want it and A5 will just see it as a regular table.

                  I am really glad you find a way to get pass this issue, but you have to think long term compatibility before committing to any tool.
                  Edhy Rijo
                  Progytech
                  (Computer Consultants)
                  The makers of CardTracking.Net
                  www.progytech.com

                  Comment

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