is there something similar to "timestamp" column type or a way of having a "date" field automatically insert today's date when the record is created. I want it to do something similar to "timestamp" but i don't want it to change everytime the record is edited/updated. It would just be something like a record creation date. any help would be appreciated. thanks.

Add a date column to the table and assign a default value to it.
Then you don't mention it in the INSERT statement, but it gets filled with that default.

default value: SQL Server getdate()
Oracle sysdate
MySQL ??

I'm more into SQL Server and Oracle, so I don't know het 'now'-function
in MySQL.

unfortunately, in mysql the DEFAULT for a column cannot be a function

however, the first TIMESTAMP column in a table will be updated automatically

you can prevent it from being updated on every UPDATE by following the suggestions in the manual

From what i've read in the mysql manual "timestamp" behaves differently whether or not mysql is in maxdb mode or not. if in maxdb mode the timestamp will not update to current date/time when the record is updated.

i need to have two columns in my tables. one field that will have a record creation date/time that is defaulted to current date when record is created only. then the second date field will update to current date/time whenever the record is changed. is this possible? i need a solution that will work in maxdb mode or not. why would mysql change the way the 'timestamp' field type behaves depending on maxdb mode or not?

make the second one the first one with a TIMESTAMP datatype

it will get updated every row update

make the first one the second one with DATETIME datatype

assign the value explicitly when inserting

thanks for your suggestions.

did i understand the mysql manual correctly that the 'timestamp' field updates or does not update on a record change depending on whether maxdb is enabled?

12.5.1 The DATETIME, DATE, and TIMESTAMP Types

?

12.5.1.1 TIMESTAMP Properties Prior to MySQL 4.1

?

12.5.1.2 TIMESTAMP Properties as of MySQL 4.1

aha

"In addition, if the MySQL server is running in MAXDB mode, TIMESTAMP is identical with DATETIME. That is, if the server is running in MAXDB mode at the time that a table is created, any TIMESTAMP columns are created as DATETIME columns. As a result, such columns use DATETIME display format, have the same range of values, and no automatic updating occurs. "

so if you want automatic timestamp updating, don't run in maxdb mode, is the conclusion i would draw from that

what's maxdb?

i don't know anything about maxdb mode but i'm searching. if you find anything out let me know. thanks.

Use the function CURDATE()

here is an example of using the above function. Remember to set the date field (`today` field in the following example) to type DATE

INSERT INTO `table_name` ( `id` , `entry` , `today`)
VALUES ('', 'dummy entry', CURDATE( ) );