CONVERT function gets date from SQL Server DateTime field with a Visual FoxPro query

Summary

Dates that are stored in a SQL Server table are stored as a DateTime data type. You can use the SQL Server CONVERT() function to extract the date portion of a SQL DateTime field with a Visual FoxPro query; for example:

SELECT CONVERT(CHAR(10), <field name>, 101) FROM <table name>

You can still supply just the date when specifying a filter condition in the query. The time is not required in the expression. For example:

SELECT CONVERT(CHAR(10), <field name>, 101) FROM <table name> ;
               WHERE <field name> = '01-01-1999'

The first and third parameters in the function call above (CHAR(10) and 101) are specific to extracting Date from DateTime. The SQL Server Books Online topic for the CONVERT function describes other available options.

More Information

The following Visual FoxPro sample code connects to SQL Server and retrieves data. The code uses the SQL CONVERT() function to extract the date part of the DateTime field "ORD_DATE". Note that the data type returned by the CONVERT command is CHARACTER in Visual FoxPro.

To use this sample, follow these steps:

1. Paste the following code in a new program inside Visual FoxPro:

   *!* Enter your specific SQL Server information here.
   #DEFINE    SQL_NAME    " "
   #DEFINE    SQL_UID     " "
   #DEFINE    SQL_PWD     " "
   *~~~~~~~~~~~
   
   LOCAL lcSQLConnStr, ;
       lnSQLConnHandle, ;
       lnSQLExecSuccess
   
   lcSQLConnStr = "DRIVER={SQL Server};SERVER=" + SQL_NAME + ;
   ";DATABASE=PUBS;UID=" + SQL_UID + ";PWD=" + SQL_PWD
   
   lnSQLConnHandle = SQLSTRINGCONNECT(lcSQLConnStr)
   IF lnSQLConnHandle < 1
       LOCAL laErrArray[1]
       AERROR(laErrArray)
       WAIT WINDOW "Unable to connect:" + CHR(13) + laErrArray[3]
       RETURN .F.
   ENDIF
   
   lnSQLExecSuccess = SQLEXEC(lnSQLConnHandle, "SELECT stor_id, ord_num, ;
              CONVERT(CHAR(10), ord_date, 101) AS ord_date, qty, ;
              payterms, title_id from sales", "RESULTS")
   
   *!* Note that you can still use just a date value if using a WHERE clause
   *!* to filter the data:
   *!* lnSQLExecSuccess = SQLEXEC(lnSQLConnHandle, "SELECT stor_id, ord_num, ;
   *!*         CONVERT(CHAR(10), ord_date, 101) AS ord_date, qty, payterms, ;
   *!*         title_id from sales WHERE ord_date < '10/28/1993'", "RESULTS")
   
   IF lnSQLExecSuccess < 1
       LOCAL laErrArray[1]
       AERROR(laErrArray)
       WAIT WINDOW "SQLEXEC() Failed:" + CHR(13) +  laErrArray[3]
   ENDIF
   
   SQLDISCONNECT(lnSQLConnHandle)
   
   IF SELECT("RESULTS") > 0
       SELECT RESULTS
       BROWSE NOWAIT
   ENDIF
   

2. Enter your SQL Server name, user ID, and password at the top of the code where indicated.

3. Save and run the code.

References

For additional information about the SQL CONVERT function, see SQL Server Books Online.