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To: Edward Ross <efrossuhl@gmail.com>
cc: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: problem converting strings to timestamps with time zone 
In-reply-to: <4BD8FCA6.1020901@gmail.com> 
References: <4BD8FCA6.1020901@gmail.com>
Comments: In-reply-to Edward Ross <efrossuhl@gmail.com>
	message dated "Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:27:34 -0700"
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:39:03 -0400
Message-ID: <853.1272512343@sss.pgh.pa.us>
From: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
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Edward Ross <efrossuhl@gmail.com> writes:
> Here is a sandbox example of what I mean.

> CREATE TABLE test_0
> (
>     string_value varchar(2047),
>     timestamp_value timestamp with time zone
> );

> insert into test_0
>        (string_value)
>     values
>        ('2010-03-12 17:06:21-0800'),
>        ('2009-08-14 16:47:40+0500'),
>        ('2010-03-22 22:45:59-0400');

> As expected, select * from test_0; , produces the following:

> string_value	            timestamp_value
> 2010-03-12 17:06:21-0800	<null>
> 2009-08-14 16:47:40+0500	<null>
> 2010-03-22 22:45:59-0400	<null>

> I would like to parse the strings into their equivalent timestamps
> and put them in the timestamp_value column.

> My attempt, so far, to update the table:

> update value
>     set
>     timestamp_value =
>     to_timestamp(string_value, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS-XXXX');

Forget to_timestamp; just cast the string to timestamptz.  The
regular timestamp input converter will handle that format fine.

			regards, tom lane