How to convert a table column data inside eloquent in laravel? - sql

Question

I am trying to convert the 'CHECKTIME' table column datetime to string for using the 'LIKE' operator in sql. The LIKE operator is not support the datetaime data type. So, I have to convert it into string to use LIKE. How can I do it in laravel eloquent? My Code in Controller:
$dailyData=CheckInOutModel::join('USERINFO', 'USERINFO.USERID', '=', 'CHECKINOUT.USERID')
->select('USERINFO.USERID as id','USERINFO.BADGENUMBER as bd', 'USERINFO.NAME as name','USERINFO.Image as photo','CHECKINOUT.*')
->where(CONVERT(VARCHAR(25),' CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME'),'LIKE',$thisDay.'%')
->orderBy('CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME','desc')->get();
The SQL Query that work to return the data:
SELECT CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME
FROM CHECKINOUT
JOIN USERINFO ON USERINFO.USERID=CHECKINOUT.USERID
WHERE CONVERT(VARCHAR(25), CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME, 126) LIKE '2021-11-23%';

Answer 1

First off, you can use the whereRaw() (see link) method to inject raw SQL in your query.
This would be something like this:
$dailyData=CheckInOutModel::join('USERINFO', 'USERINFO.USERID', '=', 'CHECKINOUT.USERID')
->select('USERINFO.USERID as id','USERINFO.BADGENUMBER as bd', 'USERINFO.NAME as name','USERINFO.Image as photo','CHECKINOUT.*')
->whereRaw('CONVERT(VARCHAR(25), CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME) LIKE ?', $thisDay.'%')
->orderBy('CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME','desc')->get();
But since you are working with dates, it's recomended to use dates all the way and not convert the data to compare strings.
Another approach would be to use whereBetween directly with dates. (see link)
Exemple :
$dailyData=CheckInOutModel::join('USERINFO', 'USERINFO.USERID', '=', 'CHECKINOUT.USERID')
->select('USERINFO.USERID as id','USERINFO.BADGENUMBER as bd', 'USERINFO.NAME as name','USERINFO.Image as photo','CHECKINOUT.*')
->whereBetween(
'CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME',
[
$thisDay,
date('Y-m-d', strtotime('+1 day', $thisDay))
]
)->orderBy('CHECKINOUT.CHECKTIME','desc')->get();
I have over indented the relevent section to make it clear.
Reach out in comments if you have any issue or suggestion to improve it :)