SQL SERVER – Datetime Function SWITCHOFFSET Example

I was recently asked if I know how SWITCHOFFSET works. This feature only works in SQL Server 2008.

Here is quick definition of the same from BOL: Returns a datetimeoffset value that is changed from the stored time zone offset to a specified new time zone offset.

What essentially it does is that changes the current offset of the time to any other offset which we defined. Let us see the example of the same.

SELECT SYSDATETIMEOFFSET() GetCurrentOffSet;
SELECT SWITCHOFFSET(SYSDATETIMEOFFSET(), '-04:00') 'GetCurrentOffSet-4';
SELECT SWITCHOFFSET(SYSDATETIMEOFFSET(), '-02:00') 'GetCurrentOffSet-2';
SELECT SWITCHOFFSET(SYSDATETIMEOFFSET(), '+00:00') 'GetCurrentOffSet+0';
SELECT SWITCHOFFSET(SYSDATETIMEOFFSET(), '+02:00') 'GetCurrentOffSet+2';
SELECT SWITCHOFFSET(SYSDATETIMEOFFSET(), '+04:00') 'GetCurrentOffSet+4';

Now let us check the resultset of the same.

The example above clearly shows that Switch offset does not only change the offset; it also alters the current time. If you look at GetcurrentOffset, it is +5.30; but, you will notice that GetCurrentOffset-2 does not only change the offset to -2. It also changes the time with the appropriate time at Timezone -2.

I suggest that you run the code in SSMS Query Window and observe the code behavior.

Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)