Retrieving current timestamp of the database

Question

Is there a way to get the last updated/current timestamp (or counter which causes timestamps of the table rows to increment.) of a database using LINQ or Entity Framework ?

Ah! I'm not talking about the datetime datatype. I'm asking for the timestamp datatype. — SDK, Jun 13 '12 at 09:19
`TIMESTAMP` has **nothing** to do with date and/or time - you cannot get the "current" `TIMESTAMP` since there is no such thing as a "current" `TIMESTAMP`. This is simply a consecutive numerical value that SQL Server handles - and you cannot "read out" the "current" value - that doesn't exist. SQL Server will automatically set the `TIMESTAMP` when a row is modified in any way — marc_s, Jun 13 '12 at 09:20
that's why I mentioned last updated/current :) . Isn't there a way to get it, so I could later check table rows with it to compare for modifications??? — SDK, Jun 13 '12 at 09:22
[See this other SO question on the same topic](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8119386/how-to-convert-sql-servers-timestamp-column-to-datetime-format) — marc_s, Jun 13 '12 at 09:22
You can select the `TIMESTAMP` column from a given table/row - and then compare it later - yes. But there's no global "current timestamp". A `TIMESTAMP` column is typically represented as a byte array in Linq-to-SQL or EF — marc_s, Jun 13 '12 at 09:23
Yep. I understand it has nothing to do with time. that's why I asked for the counter or something like that, for the purpose I mentioned in the earlier comment. — SDK, Jun 13 '12 at 09:25
I thought of syncing by first sending a timestamp to the other side and when the next sync comes, getting that timestamp and compare with the table rows. Can you tell me how can I use timestamp for this scenario ? — SDK, Jun 13 '12 at 09:39

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 06 '14 at 06:18

1

See http://www.sqlnotes.info/2012/04/13/dbts-vs-min_active_rowversion/ . To get the latest used timestamp (aka rowversion) in any committed transaction run:

select @@dbts

answered Jan 06 '14 at 06:18

Simon D

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 13 '12 at 09:16

In Linq-to-SQL - you can use the ExecuteQuery method on the DataContext:

DateTime currentDateTime = 
   ctx.ExecuteQuery<DateTime>("SELECT GETDATE()", new object[] {}).FirstOrDefault();

Something similar ought to be possible in Entity Framework, too (ObjectContext.ExecuteStoreQuery)

Retrieving current timestamp of the database

2 Answers2