Thread: BUG #8216: TO_DATE does not support th format provided

The following bug has been logged on the website:

Bug reference:      8216
Logged by:          Sunitha Mudumba
Email address:      sunitha.mudumba@blss.com.au
PostgreSQL version: 9.2.4
Operating system:   Windows
Description:        =


To_date does not throw an error when an invalid date is provided to it
select to_date('10-30-2012','dd-MM-YYYY');

It is not forcing the format on the date,  instead it stores 2014-06-14.

sunitha.mudumba@blss.com.au writes:
> To_date does not throw an error when an invalid date is provided to it
> select to_date('10-30-2012','dd-MM-YYYY');

That's not a bug; it's operating as designed.  If you want more error
checking, don't use to_date() --- just cast the string to date.

regression=# show datestyle;
 DateStyle
-----------
 ISO, MDY
(1 row)

regression=# select '10-30-2012'::date;
    date
------------
 2012-10-30
(1 row)

regression=# set datestyle = dmy;
SET
regression=# select '10-30-2012'::date;
ERROR:  date/time field value out of range: "10-30-2012"
LINE 1: select '10-30-2012'::date;
               ^
HINT:  Perhaps you need a different "datestyle" setting.

            regards, tom lane