Re: Defaulting a column to 'now' - Mailing list pgsql-sql

From Tom Lane
Subject Re: Defaulting a column to 'now'
Date
Msg-id 22427.1134584120@sss.pgh.pa.us
Whole thread Raw
In response to Defaulting a column to 'now'  ("Ken Winter" <ken@sunward.org>)
Responses Re: Defaulting a column to 'now'  ("Ken Winter" <ken@sunward.org>)
List pgsql-sql
"Ken Winter" <ken@sunward.org> writes:
> How can a column's default be set to 'now', meaning 'now' as of when each
> row is inserted?

You need a function, not a literal constant.  The SQL-spec way isCURRENT_TIMESTAMP
(which is a function, despite the spec's weird idea that it should be
spelled without parentheses); the traditional Postgres way isnow()

Either way only sets an insertion default, though.  If you want to
enforce a correct value on insertion, or change the value when the
row is UPDATEd, you need to use a trigger.
        regards, tom lane


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