Re: Oracle size of numeric fields?

From: Joel R. Kallman <jkallman_at_us.oracle.com>
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 02:29:56 GMT
Message-ID: <37324f65.2223246@newshost.us.oracle.com>

Hi, there.

On 6 May 1999 15:32:20 GMT, "Colinou" <colinux_at_usa.net> wrote:

>Hey there,
>
>does Oracle attribute a size (length) to numeric fields?

Yes....from the Oracle8i Concepts Manual:

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The NUMBER datatype stores fixed and floating-point numbers. Numbers of virtually any magnitude can be stored and are guaranteed portable among different systems operating Oracle, up to 38 digits of precision.

The following numbers can be stored in a NUMBER column:

• positive numbers in the range 1 x 10 -130 to 9.99..9 x 10 125 (with up to 38 significant digits)
• negative numbers from -1 x 10 -130 to 9.99..99 x 10 125 (with up to 38 significant digits)
• zero
• positive and negative infinity (generated only by importing from an Oracle Version 5 database)

For numeric columns you can specify the column as:

column_name NUMBER

Optionally, you can also specify a precision (total number of digits) and scale (number of digits to the right of the decimal point):

column_name NUMBER (precision, scale)

If a precision is not specified, the column stores values as given. If no scale is specified, the scale is zero.

Oracle guarantees portability of numbers with a precision equal to or less than 38 digits. You can specify a scale and no precision:

column_name NUMBER (*, scale)

In this case, the precision is 38 and the specified scale is maintained.

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>
>Thanx!
>
>nr

Thanks!

Joel

Joel R. Kallman Oracle Service Industries

Columbus, OH                             http://govt.us.oracle.com

jkallman@us.oracle.com                   http://www.oracle.com

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The statements and opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent those of Oracle Corporation. Received on Thu May 06 1999 - 21:29:56 CDT