@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
<!--
$Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/ref/set.sgml,v 1.58 2002/02/26 15:59:08 tgl Exp $
$Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/ref/set.sgml,v 1.59 2002/04/21 19:02:39 thomas Exp $
PostgreSQL documentation
-->
@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ SET TIME ZONE { '<replaceable class="PARAMETER">timezone</replaceable>' | LOCAL
<term><replaceable class="PARAMETER">variable</replaceable></term>
<listitem>
<para>
A settable run-time parameter.
A settable run-time parameter.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ SET TIME ZONE { '<replaceable class="PARAMETER">timezone</replaceable>' | LOCAL
<term><replaceable class="PARAMETER">value</replaceable></term>
<listitem>
<para>
New value of parameter. <option>DEFAULT</option> can be
used to specify resetting the parameter to its default
value. Lists of strings are allowed, but more complex
constructs may need to be single or double quoted.
New value of parameter. <option>DEFAULT</option> can be
used to specify resetting the parameter to its default
value. Lists of strings are allowed, but more complex
constructs may need to be single or double quoted.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -173,10 +173,13 @@ SET TIME ZONE { '<replaceable class="PARAMETER">timezone</replaceable>' | LOCAL
</member>
</simplelist>
</para>
<para>
The <option>DateStyle</option> option is really only intended
for porting applications. To format your date/time values to
choice, use the <function>to_char</function> family of
<command>SET DATESTYLE</command> affects interpretation of
input and provides several standard output formats. For
applications needing different variations or tighter control
over input or output, consider using
the <function>to_char</function> family of
functions.
</para>
</listitem>
@ -384,34 +387,38 @@ SELECT setseed(<replaceable>value</replaceable>);
<para>
Set the style of date to traditional
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> with European conventions:
<screen>
<screen>
SET DATESTYLE TO PostgreSQL,European;
</screen>
</screen>
</para>
Set the time zone for Berkeley, California, using double quotes to
<para>
Set the time zone for Berkeley, California, using quotes to
preserve the uppercase attributes of the time zone specifier (note
that the date/time format is ISO here):
that the date style is <literal>PostgreSQL</literal> for this
example):
<screen>
<screen>
SET TIME ZONE 'PST8PDT';
SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP AS today;
today
------------------------------------
Tue Feb 26 07:32:21.42834 2002 PST
</screen>
</para>
today
------------------------
1998-03-31 07:41:21-08
</screen>
Set the time zone for Italy (note the required single or double quotes to handle
<para>
Set the time zone for Italy (note the required single quotes to handle
the special characters):
<screen>
<screen>
SET TIME ZONE 'Europe/Rome';
SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP AS today;
today
------------------------
1998-03-31 17:41:31+02
</screen>
</screen>
</para>
</refsect1>
@ -424,10 +431,13 @@ SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP AS today;
</title>
<para>
The second syntax shown above (<literal>SET TIME ZONE</literal>)
attempts to mimic <acronym>SQL92</acronym>. However, SQL allows
only numeric time zone offsets. All other parameter settings as
well as the first syntax shown above are a
<literal>SET TIME ZONE</literal>
extends syntax defined in
<acronym>SQL9x</acronym>. <acronym>SQL9x</acronym> allows
only numeric time zone offsets while
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> allows full time zone
specifier strings as well. All other <literal>SET</literal>
features are a
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> extension.
</para>
</refsect2>
Thomas G. Lockhart
24 years ago