Can we use INTERVAL Keyword Dynamically ? 1

[vpshriyan]

I want to add 'n' number of minutes to a datetime field. Following code works fine in 4GL.

database rntdb
MAIN
DEFINE c_time DATETIME YEAR TO SECOND
LET c_time="2002-07-28 23:40:40"
DISPLAY c_time
LET c_time=c_time + INTERVAL(46) MINUTE TO MINUTE
DISPLAY c_time
END MAIN

Result:

2002-07-28 23:40:40
2002-07-29 00:26:40

To make this bit of code re-usable and make it dynamic by putting it in a function, results in a disaster. (compilation error)

FUNCTION add_minute(l_units)

DEFINE c_time DATETIME YEAR TO SECOND, l_units smallint
LET c_time="2002-07-28 23:40:40"
DISPLAY c_time
LET c_time=c_time + INTERVAL(l_units) MINUTE TO MINUTE
DISPLAY c_time

END FUNCTION

Compilation time error message:

Non-numeric character in datetime or interval.
See error number -1262.

Would anybody tell me how to solve my requirement using INTERVAL ?

thanks.
shriyan

 

[olded]

Hi:

Unfortunately Informix 4GL doesn't allow you to change the scale of an interval type:

interval (46) minute to minute

bottom line: the "46" can't be a variable. I think a better solution is using the units keyword to add/subtract an amount to/from a datetime. The stub below adds 3 seconds, 3 minutes, and 3 hours to the current datetime.

Regards,

Ed


main
define dt datetime year to minute,
cnt smallint

let cnt = 3

let dt = current + cnt units second

let dt = current + cnt units minute

let dt = current + cnt units hour

end main

 

[vpshriyan]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the alternate solution. It serves my purpose.

Regards,
Shriyan