How to set default date time as system date time in mysql

Question

I am trying to set my columns default date time to system datetime. It shows me an error

Invalid default value for 'InsertionDate'

alter table `vts`.`tblpickpoint` 
  add column `InsertionDate` 
      datetime DEFAULT 'Now()' NULL after `PickPointLatLong`

Answer 1

Have a look at CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

Answer 2

The default value for a column in mysql cannot be the result of a function.

The one exception is the current_timestamp as astander points out.

Your statement should be

alter table `vts`.`tblpickpoint` 
  add column `InsertionDate` TIMESTAMP 
             DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP 

Answer 3

If you want to init and update the value on every change, use this:

alter table `vts`.`tblpickpoint` 
  add column `InsertionDate` 
       TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
  after `PickPointLatLong`

If you only want the creation time, use this:

alter table `vts`.`tblpickpoint` 
  add column `InsertionDate` 
       TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
  after `PickPointLatLong`