# Converting varchar to datetime in logstash jdbc input?
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/converting-varchar-to-datetime-in-logstash-jdbc-input/65497
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [November 9, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/converting-varchar-to-datetime-in-logstash-jdbc-input/65497 "2016-11-09T13:32:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kulasangar\_Gowrisang](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Kulasangar_Gowrisang)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/converting-varchar-to-datetime-in-logstash-jdbc-input/65497/1 "2016-11-09T13:32:10Z")
I've got my db table which has a column named `time`, type of (`varchar`). Value of the column looks something like `2016-09-02 00:00:01`.
I tried casting it from `varchar` to `datetime` along with the `select` statement, assuming that the `time` field would be converted into a `datetime` field so that I can use it to store within `sql_last_value`.
So these are the statements which I've tried within my `jdbc` input plugin in `logstash`:
Using **CAST** :
```
statement => "SELECT * from testnew where CAST(time AS DATETIME) between '2016-09-01 00:00:00' and '2016-09-03 00:00:04' and time > :sql_last_value"
```
Using **STR\_TO\_DATE** function:
```
statement => "SELECT * FROM testnew where STR_TO_DATE(time, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%m:%s') > :sql_last_value and STR_TO_DATE(time, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%m:%s') between STR_TO_DATE('2016-09-01 00:00:00', '%Y-%m-%d %H:%m:%s') and STR_TO_DATE('2016-09-03 00:00:04', '%Y-%m-%d %H:%m:%s')"
```
The date range is working fine. But then what I expected was that, `sql_last_value` would store the timestamp value from the column `time`. Where as, it's storing the machine timestamp which makes me feel the above statements aren't working in `logstash`.
What I want is to store the converted value (which I assume the `varchar` is being converted to `datetime`) which I'm trying to do through the statements above and store it into `sql_last_value`. Is this possible?
Where am I going wrong? Any help could be appreciated.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/converting-varchar-to-datetime-in-logstash-jdbc-input/65497/2 "2016-12-07T13:32:18Z")
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