New function: epoch_to_timestamp...

Kind people,

After discussing this w/Josh yesterday, I'd like to propose a new
function for date_time. Here's the Pl/PgSQL version, warts 'n' all.

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION epoch_to_timestamp (INTEGER)
RETURNS TIMESTAMP AS '
DECLARE
the_sql TEXT;
the_record RECORD;
the_time TIMESTAMP;
BEGIN
the_sql := ''SELECT ''''January 1 1970''''::timestamp + ''''''
|| $1
|| '' seconds''''::interval AS "foo"'';
FOR the_record IN EXECUTE the_sql LOOP
the_time := the_record.foo;
END LOOP;
RETURN the_time;
END;
' LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';

My C skills (Hello, world!) aren't up to doing it that way, although
that's probably The Right Thing(TM). Is there a reasonable way to add
an optional param or two to mark time zones, or should that just the
application programmer's hassle?

TIA for any feedback :)

Cheers,
D
--
David Fetter david(at)fetter(dot)org http://fetter.org/
phone: +1 510 893 6100 cell: +1 415 235 3778