Question

I have a calendar table in my MYSQL database with one field named datefield (type DATE).

Previously I inserted dates from 2008-01-01 to 2010-01-01 but now I want to add every day until the current date. Unfortunately, I’m completely forgotten how I did this.

I’m also wondering if there is any way to automate the process of keeping this table current.

I’m using PHP so I guess I could do a new INSERT every day? Or is there some way to do this directly in MYSQL?

thanks,
tim

Answer 1

Here’s a quick hack:

drop table if exists dates;
create table dates(datefield date);


drop procedure if exists insertDates;

delimiter $$
create procedure insertDates(start_date date)
begin
set @days = 0;
set @end_date = str_to_date('1970-01-01', '%Y-%m-%d');

while (@end_date < curdate()) do
insert into dates
select
date_add(start_date, interval @days day)
from (select @days:=@days+1) r
;
set @end_date:=(select max(datefield) from dates);
end while
;

end $$

delimiter ;

call insertDates('2012-06-06');

select * from dates;

For the daily insert you can try a cron job or MySQL offers “EVENTS”, something like:

CREATE EVENT yourDB_Schema.insertDateEachDay
ON SCHEDULE EVERY 1 DAY
DO
INSERT INTO yourTable (yourDateColumn) VALUES (CURDATE());

Read more about it here:

MySQL Create Event manual entry

An event is associated with a schema. If no schema is indicated as
part of event_name, the default (current) schema is assumed.

_

Not specifying STARTS is the same as using STARTS
CURRENT_TIMESTAMP—that is, the action specified for the event begins
repeating immediately upon creation of the event.