Thread: Set default time zone for displaying dates in a session

Is there a way to set a different time zone as the default for a session?

By default, Postgres displays my data stored in "TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE" columns' data as a local time for the time
zoneof the computer hosting the Postgres cluster. 

If my Postgres server is in Seattle, but my user is in New York, I want the times shown in New York time zone.

I know about using the "AT TIME ZONE" command. But:

(a) I would rather set the time zone once in each database connection/session rather than include it in all my
individualSQL calls. 

(b) When using "TABLE myTable;" or "SELECT * FROM myTable;", I cannot specify "AT TIME ZONE".

--Basil Boruque

Basil Bourque <basil.list@me.com> writes:
> Is there a way to set a different time zone as the default for a session?

There are lots of ways.  See
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/config-setting.html

            regards, tom lane

On 2011-01-28, Basil Bourque <basil.list@me.com> wrote:

> Is there a way to set a different time zone as the default for a session?

> By default, Postgres displays my data stored in "TIMESTAMP WITH TIME
> ZONE" columns' data as a local time for the time zone of the computer
> hosting the Postgres cluster.
>
> If my Postgres server is in Seattle, but my user is in New York, I
> want the times shown in New York time zone.

-- once per session.
SET TIMEZONE TO 'America/New_York';

-- or once only
ALTER USER username SET TIMEZONE TO 'America/New_York';

or you can do the whole database with ALTER DATABASE.


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