107. TO_CHAR (number) - llighter/database GitHub Wiki

TO_CHAR (number) Oracle Help Centor

Syntax

to_char_number::=

Purpose

TO_CHAR (number) converts n to a value of VARCHAR2 datatype, using the optional number format fmt. The value n can be of type NUMBER, BINARY_FLOAT, or BINARY_DOUBLE. If you omit fmt, then n is converted to a VARCHAR2 value exactly long enough to hold its significant digits.

Please refer to "Format Models" for information on number formats.

The 'nlsparam' argument specifies these characters that are returned by number format elements:

• Decimal character
• Group separator
• Local currency symbol
• International currency symbol

This argument can have this form:

'NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS = ''dg''
   NLS_CURRENCY = ''text''
   NLS_ISO_CURRENCY = territory '

If you omit 'nlsparam' or any one of the parameters, then this function uses the default parameter values for your session.

Examples

The following statement uses implicit conversion to combine a string and a number into a number:

SELECT TO_CHAR('01110' + 1) FROM dual;

TO_C
----
1111

Compare this example with the first example for TO_CHAR (character).

In the next example, the output is blank padded to the left of the currency symbol.

SELECT TO_CHAR(-10000,'L99G999D99MI') "Amount"
     FROM DUAL;

Amount
--------------
  $10,000.00-

SELECT TO_CHAR(-10000,'L99G999D99MI',
   'NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS = '',.''
   NLS_CURRENCY = ''AusDollars'' ') "Amount"
     FROM DUAL;

Amount
-------------------
AusDollars10.000,00-