>I am new to MySql and I am not really sure what the equivalent of a
>"cron job" would be but I need a way for the DB to automatically
>update a column in my table based on certain conditions.
>
>The table has a date, starttime and endtime column. In the same table
>is a column called Status. If the Date and starttime has not yet
>happened, the status is Upcoming. If the Date is the same as the
>current Date AND we are between the Start and Stop times in the same
>table, the Status is Active. If the current Date is after the date and
>endtime in the column, the status is Closed. So:
>
>IF currentdate < posted date
>And current time < start time
>then
>status = 'upcoming'
>End If
>
>If currentdate > posted date
>And current time > End time Then
>status = 'closed'
>End IF
>
>If current date = posted date
>AND current time < endtime AND
>current time > starttime then
>status = active
>End IF

It seems to me that you could do this with a view, and not
store the status field at all. Or you could compute it on
those queries that need it.

Also, your code seems to have gaps in it. For example, what
is the status if:
1. currentdate > posted date AND current time < end time
2. current date = posted date AND current time < starttime
3. current date = posted date AND current time > end time

You might find it works better to use a datetime. Then, it seems
you've got three cases:

current datetime < start datetime (upcoming)
current datetime >= start datetime AND current datetime < end datetime (active)
current datetime >= end datetime (closed)

and things will work if a start/end time crosses midnight.