Re: SQL : Order by for varchar ???

Looks like I am missing something..

this is the error we get

select width, fractionToDecimal(width) from test

              *
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character to number conversion error
ORA-06512: at "PS09.FRACTIONTODECIMAL", line 12 ORA-06512: at line 1

• Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 3:41 PM

>
> Ooh, a fun one. If you are sure of the format of the data (as you'll see
> in the following function) you can create a function to make the data
> numeric. I can't think of another way to do it, but maybe someone else
> can?...
>
> create or replace function fractionToDecimal (str in varchar2) return
> number is
> fract varchar2(100);
> dec number;
> begin
> -- This function takes numbers in the form below and returns a
decimal
> number
> -- [whole-]numerator[/denominator]["|']
> -- For example:
> -- 5/8"
> -- 1-1/2"
> -- 4'
> --
>
> -- Remove the symbol.
> --
> fract := rtrim(str, '"''');
>
> -- Replace occurences of '-' with '+'
> --
> fract := replace(fract, '-', '+');
>
> -- Evaluate the resulting expression
> --
> execute immediate 'select ' || fract || ' from dual' into dec;
>
> return dec;
> end fractionToDecimal;
> /
>
> 1 select width, fractionToDecimal(width) from test
> 2* order by 2 desc
> SQL> /
>
> WIDTH FRACTIONTODECIMAL(WIDTH)
> -------------------- ------------------------
> 4" 4
> 2" 2
> 1-1/2" 1.5
> 1" 1
> 3/4" .75
> 5/8" .625
>
> 6 rows selected.
>
> Diana Duncan
> TITAN Technology Partners
> One Copley Parkway, Ste 540
> Morrisville, NC 27560
> VM: 919.466.7337 x 316
> F: 919.466.7427
> E: Diana_Duncan_at_ttpartners.com
>
>
>
> "Apps Sol"
> <apps_sol_at_hot To: Multiple recipients of
list ORACLE-L <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
> mail.com> cc:
> Sent by: Fax to:
> root_at_fatcity. Subject: SQL : Order by for
varchar ???
> com
>
>
> 06/07/2001
> 01:56 PM
> Please
> respond to
> ORACLE-L
>
>
>
>
>
>
> One of our developers was looking for solution for his problem ..
>
> Any idea folks .. ??
>
> He wants to sort his data asc or desc for a varchar column ..
>
>
> 1> create table test(width varchar2(20));
>
> 2>
> insert into test values('5/8"');
> insert into test values('4"');
> insert into test values('3/4"');
> insert into test values('2"');
> insert into test values('1-1/2"');
> insert into test values('1"');
>
> 3>
> select width from test order by width DESC;
>
>
> 5/8"
> 3/4"
> 1"
> 1-1/2"
> 2"
> 4"
>
>
> Cheers
> RK
> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> --
> Author: Apps Sol
> INET: apps_sol_at_hotmail.com
>
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Apps Sol
  INET: apps_sol_at_hotmail.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
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