Oracle Forms Developer – Form Builder Reference, Volume 1

$$DBTIME$$ system variable
Syntax
$$DBTIME$$
Description
$$DBTIME$$ retrieves the current time from the local database. Use $$DBTIME$$ to designate a
default value or range for a text item using the Initial Value or Lowest/Highest Allowed Value
properties. The text item must be of the CHAR or TIME data type.
Usage Notes
Use $$DBTIME$$ when connecting to a remote database that may be in a different time zone from the
client’s time zone.
The display of system variables is governed by the format mask, either a default data type format mask or
one you specify. For example, if you want the default HH:MM:SS format, you must specify a TIME data
type. (Note that the default format mask depends on the value of NLS_LANG.)
If you are building a client/server application, using $$DBTIME$$ could have performance implications,
depending on the complexity of your network configuration.
$$DBTIME$$ restrictions
If you are accessing a non-ORACLE datasource, avoid using $$DBTIME$$. Instead, use a When-
Create-Record trigger to select the current time in a datasource-specific manner.
$$DBTIME$$ examples
Assume that you want the value of a TIME text item, called ORDERTIME, to default to the current
database time. When you define the ORDERTIME text item, specify $$DBTIME$$ in the Initial Value
property.
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