What is the preferred format to store date/times in a SQL Server database when PHP is your primary language?

Question

I am planning a PHP application that needs to store date/times in an MSSQL database. (For the curious, it is a calendar application.) What is the preferred format to store this

Answer 1

I would store the dates in the MS-SQL format to assist in using the date manipulation functions in T-SQL to their fullest. It's easier to write and read

SELECT * FROM Foo
WHERE DateDiff(d,field1,now()) < 1

Than to try and perform the equivalent operation by manipulating integers

To convert a MsSQL date into a unix timestamp use dateDiff:

SELECT DATEDIFF(s,'1970-01-01 00:00:00',fieldName) as fieldNameTS
FROM TableName
WHERE fieldName between '10/1/2008' and '10/31/2008'

To Convert an Unix Timestamp into a MsSQL Date, you can either do it in PHP:

$msSQLDate = date("Y-m-d H:i:s", $unixDate );

or in MsSQL

INSERT INTO TableName ( 
  fieldName
) VALUES (
  DATEADD(s,'1970-01-01 00:00:00', ? ) 
) 

Where parameter one is int($unixDate)