RE: [PHP-DEV] RE: [PHP-DB] PHP and MySQL queries...

-----Original Message----- From: Tim Foster [mailto:tfoster@pdxinc.com] Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 8:19 AM To: php-dev@lists.php.net; php-db@lists.php.net Subject: [PHP-DEV] RE: [PHP-DB] PHP and MySQL queries... >snip... (been doing VBScript on ASP for several years, >tho). I feel sorry for you. :) >I'm curious... > >If you're going to store it as an integer, why not store "10/24/2001" as YYYYMMDD >(20011024). This gives you the added benefit of being able to have the db sort your >fields. This even works if you want to include the time with your date (provided all dates >in the field consistently contain the same *amount* of info). For example, noon on >Christmas will always be lower than noon of the following New Year ..as it should be: > >YYYY/MM/DD 20011225 < 20020101 >YYYY/MM/DD HH:MM 200112251200 < 200201011200 >YYYY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS 20011225120000 < 20020101120000 A better way to do integer date is a UNIX timestamp. This will sort just as easy as the method above. By looking at the date() function you should be able to see immediately the benefit in ease-of-use (not to mention portability in the DB) and formating options available for the timestamp. http://www.php.net/date -Chris >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Mike Frazer [mailto:mike@invertedmind.com] >> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 7:54 AM >> To: php-dev@lists.php.net; php-db@lists.php.net >> Subject: Re: [PHP-DB] PHP and MySQL queries... >> >> >> Agreed. This is especially useful when you need to conserve every byte you >> can; a timestamp of "10/24/2001" or something similar is going to take 10 >> bytes as a string and an indeterminate number of bytes for an actual >> timestamp because of system variations, whereas an integer value of 10242001 >> will take you 2-4 bytes depending on the type of int you declare. Not a lot >> of space, but assume for a second you have 30 fields in your database and 5 >> million rows...suddenly those 6-8 bytes have multiplied on this one field >> alone. Space and speed are important in DBs :) >> >> Mike Frazer