Getting the Database Timezone

Question

Hi,
I am trying to retrieve the database time zone using JDBC. I retrieved the database time using "select sysdate from dual"
When I try to get the time zone from this date it gives me my current timezone as opposed to the database time zone( when the database is in a different timezone ).
This happens with all the drivers I use ( 8i drivers with 8i database and 9i drivers with 9i database )
Any pointers? Am I using the wrong call to get the database time? Is there an Oracle specific call that can be used?
Here is the code ..
String stmtStr = "Select sysdate from dual";
java.sql.PreparedStatement stmt =
conn.prepareStatement( stmtStr );
ResultSet rset = stmt.executeQuery( );
while( rset.next() )
Timestamp ts = rset.getTimestamp( 1 );
System.out.println( "JDBC Database Time :" + ts );
SimpleDateFormat sdf =
new SimpleDateFormat( "dd.MM.yyyy H:mm:ss zzz" );
System.out.println( sdf.format( ts ) );

Answer 1

Hi Shailesh,
Basically you need to get the default time zone from the Oracle database embedded JVM and set it as the time zone for the "SimpleDateFormat" class. If you look at the source code for the "SimpleDateFormat" class, you will see that it contains an instance member which is an instance of class "java.util.Calendar". If you look at the source code for "Calendar", you will see that it contains a member which is an instance of a class that extends "java.util.TimeZone". The "TimeZone" in "SimpleDateFormat" comes from the JVM it is running in -- so it is different to the JVM running inside the Oracle database (according to the information you have posted).
Please check the source code to verify the above.
Hope this has helped you.
Good Luck,
Avi.