Firebird Documentation IndexFirebird 2.0 Language Ref. UpdateMiscellaneous language elements → Shorthand casts
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Shorthand casts

Available in: DSQL, ESQL, PSQL

Added in: IB

Description: When converting a string literal to a DATE, TIME or TIMESTAMP, Firebird allows the use of a shorthand “C-style” cast. This feature already existed in InterBase 6, but was never properly documented.

Syntax: 

datatype 'date/timestring'

Examples: 

update People set AgeCat = 'Old'
  where BirthDate < date '1-Jan-1943'
insert into Appointments
  (Employee_Id, Client_Id, App_date, App_time)
values
  (973, 8804, date 'today' + 2, time '16:00')
new.lastmod = timestamp 'now';

See also: CAST

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Firebird Documentation IndexFirebird 2.0 Language Ref. UpdateMiscellaneous language elements → Shorthand casts