RE: TO_CHAR conversions require an extra byte?

Unless you specify 'FM0000' in your format template, Oracle sticks a leading blank onto it, try:

        SELECT LENGTH(TO_CHAR(123,'FM0000')) "Bleah" FROM DUAL;

Dean Jefferson
Database Administrator
State of Wisconsin
Office of Commissioner of Insurance
Dean.Jefferson_at_oci.state.wi.us

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jesse, Rich [mailto:Rich.Jesse_at_qtiworld.com]
> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 2:41 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject: TO_CHAR conversions require an extra byte?
>
>
> Can anyone explain the following or point me to an FM to R?
>
> SELECT LENGTH(TO_CHAR(123,'0000')) "Bleah" FROM DUAL;
>
> Bleah
> ------
> 5
>
> For some silly reason, I would have expected the length to be "4". An
> implicit sign perhaps?
>
> TIA,
> Rich Jesse System/Database Administrator
> Rich.Jesse_at_qtiworld.com Quad/Tech International,
> Sussex, WI USA
>
>
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> Author: Jesse, Rich
> INET: Rich.Jesse_at_qtiworld.com
>
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-- 
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-- 
Author: Jefferson, Dean
  INET: Dean.Jefferson_at_oci.state.wi.us

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