Bug #18240 needs TIMESUM() function. SUM doesn't SUM Timediffs

• Submitted: 15 Mar 2006 0:00
• Reporter: Jim Michaels
• Status: Open
• Category: MySQL Server
• Severity: S4 (Feature request)
• Version: 5.0.18
• CPU Architecture: Any

[15 Mar 2006 0:00] Jim Michaels

Description:
The current MySQL engin'e SUM() function cannot sum datetime fileds or grouped timediff() function results.  SUM() currently returns an int representing the hours of the timediff.  
I am also looking for a timediff function that returns DATETIME format instead of just TIME format.  I wanted the results broken down into days, months, years, assuming 30-day months.  If assuming is a bad idea, then OK.

How to repeat:
SELECT id,name, prj,sum(timediff(end_time,start_time)) AS elapsed
    FROM work
     group by name,prj;

CREATE TABLE work (
id INT auto_increment NOT NULL,
name VARCHAR(45) NOT NULL,
start_time DATETIME NOT NULL,
end_time DATETIME NOT NULL,
tasknum INT DEFAULT NULL,
prj VARCHAR(45) DEFAULT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY(id)
);

Suggested fix:
At least have the sum function return results in the type (or a similar type) that the data came in.