Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: SQL Developer is returning only the date, not the time. How do I fix this?

SQL Developer returns only date, not time. To fix, use the format() function or modify the database column to store timestamps.

Quick Answer: Use the format() function in SQL Developer to return dates with times, e.g., format(CREATION_TIME, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS')

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

SQL Developer is returning only the date, not the time, which can be frustrating when trying to analyze data. This issue affects users who are working with databases that use date and time formats differently.

This problem occurs because SQL Developer is defaulting to displaying dates in a specific format, which doesn't include the time component. To resolve this, we will explore two methods for fixing this issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason why SQL Developer returns only the date is due to the database's date and time format settings. The database may be using a format that doesn't include the time component or is set to display dates in a specific way.
  • An alternative reason could be related to the SQL query or data retrieval method being used, which might not be returning the desired date and time format.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Configuring SQL Developer's Date Format Settings

  1. Step 1: Open SQL Developer and navigate to the 'Preferences' menu.
  2. Step 2: In the Preferences window, select the 'Database' or 'Connection' settings section.
  3. Step 3: Look for the 'Date Format' option and adjust it to display both date and time components (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM).
  4. Step 4: Save the changes and try running the query again. The database should now return the correct date and time format.

Modifying the SQL Query or Data Retrieval Method

  1. Step 1: Check if the SQL query being used is retrieving the desired date and time format.
  2. Step 2: If using a stored procedure, modify it to include the date and time components in the output (e.g., using TO_CHAR function).
  3. Step 3: If using a data retrieval method like FETCH FIRST or TOP, adjust the parameters to ensure both date and time are included in the results.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of SQL Developer returning only the date, not the time. Remember to check your database's settings and query methods to ensure the correct date and time format is being displayed.

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