When using cfqueryparam you specify a value and an SQL type. Dates can be assigned two different types, cf_sql_date and cf_sql_timestamp. cf_sql_date is intended to be used for date types in DB2 and Informix. If you’re using MS SQL Server, you should use cf_sql_timestamp.

cf_sql_timestamp maps to the datetime and smalldatetime data types in MS SQL Server. Although cf_sql_date works in many instances, it does not work in all instances. I ran into this issue when evaluating whether a date equaled a certain date value. For example:

SELECT *
FROM myTable
WHERE create_dt = 

When I ran the query in SQL Query Analyzer (minus the cfqueryparam of course), I received the expected results. When I ran it inside a ColdFusion page I received an empty result set. Once I changed to timestamp, I received my results.

SELECT *
FROM myTable
WHERE create_dt = 

I haven’t tested the code with mySQL, and mySQL isn’t listed in the livedocs cross-reference table so I don’t know what kind of effect can be seen there, though I’d be interested to find out.

UPDATE: I got two great tips from comments. According to sebastiaan cf_sql_timestamp should be used with MySQL as well as MS SQL Server. And Ben Nadel adds that cf_sql_longvarchar should be used for text fields. Great info. Thank you both!