NLSSORT

Syntax

Purpose

NLSSORT returns the string of bytes used to sort char. The value of 'nlsparams' can have the form

'NLS_SORT = sort'

where sort is a linguistic sort sequence or BINARY. If you omit 'nlsparams', this function uses the default sort sequence for your session. If you specify BINARY, this function returns char.

Example

This function can be used to specify comparisons based on a linguistic sort sequence rather than on the binary value of a string:

SELECT ename FROM emp
   WHERE NLSSORT (ename, 'NLS_SORT = German')
   > NLSSORT ('S', 'NLS_SORT = German') ORDER BY ename;
 
ENAME
----------
SCOTT
SMITH
TURNER
WARD

See Also: Oracle8i National Language Support Guide for information on sort sequences.