Re: Get Count of Decimal Places

On Mar 13, 10:55 am, webtourist <webtour..._at_gmail.com> wrote:
> I have some number data in table like this:
>
> .050485436893203883495145631
> 234.040388349514563106796116505
>
> i.e. very large decimal places..
>
> I'd like to update them and ROUND them all to 8th decimal.
>
> How to get the number of decimal places ? or I have to do this via
> to_char, substr etc....
>
> thanks

Oracle has a particular definition for storing numeric values. Normally, one keeps the value precisely, then rounds particularly during manipulation or display. But you might have some particular requirement, so perhaps you should say what it is. I've seen quite a bit of ridiculous argument as users don't understand when and where rounding should be done, especially when they have wrong formulae with Excel spreadsheets, and it always winds up coming back to me to explain why the db is right and their spreadsheets are wrong.

SQL has a round function:
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14200/functions135.htm#sthref1966

The Concepts manual explains your options: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14220/datatype.htm#sthref3810

The SQL manual also describes the datatype in more detail: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14200/sql_elements001.htm#sthref87

You should learn to search the manuals at http://tahiti.oracle.com

jg

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