Re: Documentation patch for date/time formatting functions

On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 9:14 AM, Steve Crawford
<scrawford(at)pinpointresearch(dot)com> wrote:
> Due to a variety of messages over time regarding perceived weirdness in
> to_timestamp and to_date, this patch adds "(see notes)" in the description
> column for to_date and to_timestamp in the Formatting Functions table and
> adds the following text to the opening of the usage notes for date/time
> conversion:
>
> The to_date and to_timestamp functions exist to handle unusual input formats
> that cannot be converted by simple casting. These functions interpret input
> liberally and with minimal error checking and while they will produce valid
> output, the conversion has the potential to yield unexpected results. Read
> the following notes and test carefully before use. Casting is the preferred
> method of conversion wherever possible.
>
> It also adds the following usage note:
>
> Input to to_date and to_timestamp is not restricted to normal ranges thus
> to_date('20096040','YYYYMMDD') returns 2014-01-17 rather than causing an
> error.
>
> This is the first patch I have submitted directly. Please advise if I have
> made any errors in method, style, etc.
Sure. You should do the following things:
- attach a proper patch to the email you are sending such as people
can easily download it and have a look at it without having to
regenerate it themselves
- submit it to the next commit fest if you want to have it reviewed:
https://commitfest.postgresql.org/action/commitfest_view?id=20. Next
commit fest begins on the 15th of November and your patch is simple,
so for sure somebody will show up and have a closer look at it.

Here are as well general guidelines about patch submission:
http://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/Submitting_a_Patch

Regards,
--
Michael