date format

[Axel]

Hello
I m using a database with MS SQL SERVER 2000, in which I insert
SMALLDATETIME values.While using the query browser, with the option "Use
local setting for display date, money" unchecked , I get results like :
2005-09-24 00:00:00

With the option checked : 24/sept./05

I get access to the DB with PHP scripts and I only get values like
"24/sept./05", but I d like to get SMALLDATETIME style values. How could I
do this ?

thanks in advance

[Simon Hayes]

Datetime values are stored in a binary format, so you have to decide
how they should be formatted when you retrieve the data. Although you
can use CONVERT() in a query to get a specific format (see Books
Online), it's usually a better idea to do the formatting on the client
- presentation and formatting are really client-side tasks, and it's
easier to handle different client locales etc. See here for more
information about working with datetime data:

http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/info_datetime.asp

Simon

[Axel]

Yes, I understand well what you explain, and this is because I want to
format on the client side that I want the "raw" values. But, in PHP (or
maybe the problem comes from elsewhere, I don't know), the values is
automatically transformed following the local & area settings.("09"
become => "september" or "septembre" or "septembria" or anything else
following the local language )

I didn't found the way to do the same that in "Query Browser , while not
checking the option " use local settings to translate datetime, money
values", so I used the CONVERT() function, but for my usage, it s just
compute time that could have be saved if it was possible to get "raw" data.

I think it s even better than parse and transform the string
"25/sept./05" that I get with PHP function. This script will be used in
several servers and I can't trust the local settings (country ,
languages) of these servers, since, "sept" could be anything else in
other languages.

Finally, I found that it s very very annoying that it is not possible to
get raw values, without having then translated or converted automatically.

Thanks you very much for your answer.