[postgis-users] why are date fields returned as FTInteger?

[gold]

the docs for shapelib state that dates can't be handled.

from DBFGetFieldInfo() :

     For instance the xBase field type for Date will just be returned as 
being FTInteger


and DBFAddField() :

     Note that some valid xBase field
                 types cannot be created such as date fields

why is that? is it due to the fact that there's just no clear mapping, 
or is there some other reason that dates are not chosen to be handled.

also, to make sure i understand, when shp2pgsql encounters a date 
column, it silently converts it to varchar(8) and writes the date string 
to that column.

i'm working off the cvs head.


jon