I am using Spreadsheet::ParseExcel to read data from an excel spreadsheet. I have encountered a problem ingesting dates. The excel date format is mm/dd/yyyy whereas mysql expects yyyy-mm-dd. I tried reformating the cells in the spreadsheet and I can, in fact, format the presentation of the date to match the yyyy-mm-dd format that mysql expects, but when I select a cell it turns out the cell content is still in the mm/dd/yyyy format. Therefore, when attempt to insert the dates into mysql I only get 0000-00-00. I am attempting to use the STR_TO_DATE mysql function within my DBI do statement to correct this problem. My code looks like this: 
$dbh->do("insert into frame                       

(indate,siteid,serial,contract,installdate) 

values            

(CURDATE(),\'$frame_siteid\',\'$frame_serial\',\'$frame_contract\',STR
+_TO_DATE($frame_installdate,\'%m/%d/Y\')");

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However, this date formatting syntax is failing: 
DBD::mysql::db do failed: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check 
+the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the righ
+t syntax to use near '' at line 3 at ./excel.syr.frame.extract.pl lin
+e 91.

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I imagine this is a common problem for which there is a common answer, but I am having trouble finding it on the mysql or perl sites/reference material I have searched.
Hagen Finley

In reply to DBI:mysql date conversion question by finhagen

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