How to Convert SQL Datetime Column to a Date in a Remote View

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY

To retrieve a datetime column value as a date (mm/dd/yy), a data type conversion must occur. For example, Microsoft SQL Server doesn't have a date data type; dates are always stored in a datetime format. This article shows how to convert the remote datetime data type to a date value by using the DbSetProp function. There is no way to do this through the user interface when creating a remote view.

MORE INFORMATION

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Create a new remote view by using the View Designer. Select the DataSource that opens the Pubs database supplied with SQL Server. Open the Sales table from the available tables in the Pubs database.
   
   NOTE: This process assumes that a connection has already been established to the Pubs database in SQL Server. The creation of remote connections is beyond the scope of this article. For more information on how to set up a connection, please see Chapter 7 of the "User's Guide" and Chapter 8 of the "Developer's Guide."



2. Select the following columns: Store_id, Ord_num, Qty, Payterms, Title_id, and Date, or Select * to select all columns. The selected output should show:

   
      sales.stor_id, sales.ord_num, sales.qty, sales.payterms, sales.title_id,
      sales.date. 

   The SQL statement should be:

   
      SELECT Sales.stor_id, Sales.ord_num, Sales.qty, Sales.payterms,;
         Sales.title_id, Sales.date;
         FROM dbo.sales Sales 




3. Execute the view by clicking the exclamation mark (!). A result set containing a date column in the format "mon dd yyyy hh:miAM" (or PM), such as "Apr 15 1995 10:23AM" will display.



4. Save the view as Sales_view.



5. Create a form using the Form Designer, and include the "sales_view" in the data environment. Drag all the fields onto the form as text boxes. In the load event of the form, place the following code including the quotation marks:

   
      OPEN DATABASE mydata
      =DBSetProp("sales_view.date","field","Datatype","D(8)") 

REFERENCES

FoxPro Help: Client/Server Applications, Data Type Conversions, Changing Default Data Types when Downloading.

Language Reference, page 245, "Field Properties for Views."

Additional query words: VFoxWin

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