Is java.sql.Timestamp timezone specific?
date, datetime, java, jdbc, oracle
Solution
Although it is not explicitly specified for `setTimestamp(int parameterIndex, Timestamp x)` drivers have to follow the rules established by the `setTimestamp(int parameterIndex, Timestamp x, Calendar cal)` javadoc:
Sets the designated parameter to the given `java.sql.Timestamp` value, using the given `Calendar` object. The driver uses the `Calendar` object to construct an SQL `TIMESTAMP` value, which the driver then sends to the database. With a `Calendar` object, the driver can calculate the timestamp taking into account a custom time zone. If no `Calendar` object is specified, the driver uses the default time zone, which is that of the virtual machine running the application.
When you call with `setTimestamp(int parameterIndex, Timestamp x)` the JDBC driver uses the time zone of the virtual machine to calculate the date and time of the timestamp in that time zone. This date and time is what is stored in the database, and if the database column does not store time zone information, then any information about the zone is lost (which means it is up to the application(s) using the database to use the same time zone consistently or come up with another scheme to discern timezone (ie store in a separate column).
For example: Your local time zone is GMT+2. You store "2012-12-25 10:00:00 UTC". The actual value stored in the database is "2012-12-25 12:00:00". You retrieve it again: you get it back again as "2012-12-25 10:00:00 UTC" (but only if you retrieve it using `getTimestamp(..)`), but when another application accesses the database in time zone GMT+0, it will retrieve the timestamp as "2012-12-25 12:00:00 UTC".
If you want to store it in a different timezone, then you need to use the `setTimestamp(int parameterIndex, Timestamp x, Calendar cal)` with a Calendar instance in the required timezone. Just make sure you also use the equivalent getter with the same time zone when retrieving values (if you use a `TIMESTAMP` without timezone information in your database).
So, assuming you want to store the actual GMT timezone, you need to use:
Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance(TimeZone.getTimeZone("GMT"));
stmt.setTimestamp(11, tsSchedStartTime, cal);
With JDBC 4.2 a compliant driver should support `java.time.LocalDateTime` (and `java.time.LocalTime`) for `TIMESTAMP` (and `TIME`) through `get/set/updateObject`. The `java.time.Local*` classes are without time zones, so no conversion needs to be applied (although that might open a new set of problems if your code did assume a specific time zone).
That is:
- replace `getDate(..)` with `getObject(.., LocalDate.class)`
- replace `setDate(.., dateValue)` with `setObject(.., localDateValue)`
- replace `getTime(..)` with `getObject(.., LocalTime.class)`
- replace `setTime(.., timeValue)` with `setObject(.., localTimeValue)`
- replace `getTimestamp(..)` with `getObject(.., LocalDateTime.class)`
- replace `setTimestamp(.., timestampValue)` with `setObject(.., localDateTimeValue)`
Problem
I have to store UTC dateTime in DB. I have converted the dateTime given in specific timezone to UTC. for that I followed the below code. My input dateTime is "20121225 10:00:00 Z" timezone is "Asia/Calcutta" My Server/DB(oracle) is running in the same timezone(IST) "Asia/Calcutta" Get the Date object in this specific Timezone ``` String date = "20121225 10:00:00 Z"; String timeZoneId = "Asia/Calcutta"; TimeZone timeZone = TimeZone.getTimeZone(timeZoneId); DateFormat dateFormatLocal = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd HH:mm:ss z"); //This date object is given time and given timezone java.util.Date parsedDate = dateFormatLocal.parse(date + " " + timeZone.getDisplayName(false, TimeZone.SHORT)); if (timeZone.inDaylightTime(parsedDate)) { // We need to re-parse because we don't know if the date // is DST until it is parsed... parsedDate = dateFormatLocal.parse(date + " " + timeZone.getDisplayName(true, TimeZone.SHORT)); } //assigning to the java.sql.TimeStamp instace variable obj.setTsSchedStartTime(new java.sql.Timestamp(parsedDate.getTime())); ``` Store into DB ``` if (tsSchedStartTime != null) { stmt.setTimestamp(11, tsSchedStartTime); } else { stmt.setNull(11, java.sql.Types.DATE); } ``` OUTPUT DB (oracle) has stored the same given `dateTime: "20121225 10:00:00` not in UTC. I have confirmed from the below sql. ``` select to_char(sched_start_time, 'yyyy/mm/dd hh24:mi:ss') from myTable ``` My DB server also running on the same timezone "Asia/Calcutta" It gives me the below appearances - `Date.getTime()` is not in UTC - Or Timestamp is has timezone impact while storing into DB What am I doing wrong here? One more question: Will `timeStamp.toString()` print in local timezone like `java.util.date` does? Not UTC?