This chapter presents the format models for datetime and number data stored in character strings.
This chapter includes the following sections:
A format model is a character literal that describes the format of DATETIME
or NUMBER
data stored in a character string. When you convert a character string into a datetime or number, a format model tells Oracle how to interpret the string.
You can use number format models:
In the TO_CHAR
function to translate a value of NUMBER
datatype to VARCHAR2
datatype
In the TO_NUMBER
function to translate a value of CHAR
or VARCHAR2
datatype to NUMBER
datatype
A number format model is composed of one or more number format elements. The following table lists the elements of a number format model.
Table 7-1 Number Format Elements
Element | Example | Description |
---|---|---|
, (comma) |
|
Returns a comma in the specified position. You can specify multiple commas in a number format model. Restrictions:
|
. (period) |
|
Returns a decimal point, which is a period (.) in the specified position. Restriction: You can specify only one period in a number format model. |
$ |
|
Returns value with a leading dollar sign. |
0 |
|
Returns leading zeros. Returns trailing zeros. |
9 |
|
Returns value with the specified number of digits with a leading space if positive or with a leading minus if negative. Leading zeros are blank, except for a zero value, which returns a zero for the integer part of the fixed-point number. |
B |
|
Returns blanks for the integer part of a fixed-point number when the integer part is zero (regardless of zeros in the format model). |
|
Returns in the specified position the ISO currency symbol (the current value of the |
|
|
Returns in the specified position the decimal character, which is the current value of the Restriction: You can specify only one decimal character in a number format model. |
|
|
Returns a value using in scientific notation. |
|
|
Returns in the specified position the group separator (the current value of the Restriction: A group separator cannot appear to the right of a decimal character or period in a number format model. |
|
|
Returns in the specified position the local currency symbol (the current value of the |
|
MI |
|
Returns negative value with a trailing minus sign (-). Returns positive value with a trailing blank. Restriction: The MI format element can appear only in the last position of a number format model. |
PR |
|
Returns negative value in <angle brackets>. Returns positive value with a leading and trailing blank. Restriction: The PR format element can appear only in the last position of a number format model. |
RN rn |
|
Returns a value as Roman numerals in uppercase. Returns a value as Roman numerals in lowercase. Value can be an integer between 1 and 3999. |
S |
|
Returns negative value with a leading minus sign (-). Returns positive value with a leading plus sign (+). Returns negative value with a trailing minus sign (-). Returns positive value with a trailing plus sign (+). Restriction: The S format element can appear only in the first or last position of a number format model. |
TM |
|
The text minimum number format model returns (in decimal output) the smallest number of characters possible. This element is case insensitive. The default is TM9, which returns the number in fixed notation unless the output exceeds 64 characters. If the output exceeds 64 characters, then Oracle Database automatically returns the number in scientific notation. Restrictions:
|
|
Returns in the specified position the Euro (or other) dual currency symbol (the current value of the |
|
V |
|
Returns a value multiplied by 10n (and if necessary, round it up), where |
|
Returns the hexadecimal value of the specified number of digits. If the specified number is not an integer, then Oracle Database rounds it to an integer. Restrictions:
|
You can use datetime format models:
In the TO_CHAR
, TO_DATE
, TO_TIMESTAMP
, TO_TIMESTAMP_TZ
, TO_YMINTERVAL
, and TO_DSINTERVAL
datetime functions to translate a character string that is in a format other than the default datetime format into a DATETIME
value
In the TO_CHAR
function to translate a DATETIME
value that is in a format other than the default datetime format into a character string
A datetime format model is composed of one or more datetime format elements. The following table lists the elements of a date format model.
Table 7-2 Datetime Format Elements
Element | Specify in TO_* datetime functions? | Description |
---|---|---|
- / , . ; : "text" |
Yes |
Punctuation and quoted text is reproduced in the result. |
AD A.D. |
Yes |
AD indicator with or without periods. |
AM A.M. |
Yes |
Meridian indicator with or without periods. |
BC B.C. |
Yes |
BC indicator with or without periods. |
CC SCC |
No |
Century.
For example, 2002 returns 21; 2000 returns 20. |
D |
Yes |
Day of week (1-7). |
DAY |
Yes |
Name of day, padded with blanks to length of 9 characters. |
DD |
Yes |
Day of month (1-31). |
DDD |
Yes |
Day of year (1-366). |
DL |
Yes |
Returns a value in the long date format, which is an extension of Oracle Database's Restriction: You can specify this format only with the |
DS |
Yes |
Returns a value in the short date format. Makes the appearance of the date components (day name, month number, and so forth) depend on the Restriction: You can specify this format only with the |
DY |
Yes |
Abbreviated name of day. |
E |
No |
Abbreviated era name (Japanese Imperial, ROC Official, and Thai Buddha calendars). |
EE |
No |
Full era name (Japanese Imperial, ROC Official, and Thai Buddha calendars). |
FF [1..9] |
Yes |
Fractional seconds; no radix character is printed (use the X format element to add the radix character). Use the numbers 1 to 9 after FF to specify the number of digits in the fractional second portion of the datetime value returned. If you do not specify a digit, then Oracle Database uses the precision specified for the datetime datatype or the datatype's default precision. Examples:
|
FM |
Yes |
Returns a value with no leading or trailing blanks. See Also: Additional discussion on this format model modifier in the Oracle Database SQL Reference |
FX |
Yes |
Requires exact matching between the character data and the format model. See Also: Additional discussion on this format model modifier in the Oracle Database SQL Reference |
HH |
Yes |
Hour of day (1-12). |
HH12 |
No |
Hour of day (1-12). |
HH24 |
Yes |
Hour of day (0-23). |
IW |
No |
Week of year (1-52 or 1-53) based on the ISO standard. |
IYY IY I |
No |
Last 3, 2, or 1 digit(s) of ISO year. |
IYYY |
No |
4-digit year based on the ISO standard. |
J |
Yes |
Julian day; the number of days since January 1, 4712 BC. Number specified with J must be integers. |
MI |
Yes |
Minute (0-59). |
MM |
Yes |
Month (01-12; January = 01). |
MON |
Yes |
Abbreviated name of month. |
MONTH |
Yes |
Name of month, padded with blanks to length of 9 characters. |
PM P.M. |
No |
Meridian indicator with or without periods. |
Q |
No |
Quarter of year (1, 2, 3, 4; January - March = 1). |
RM |
Yes |
Roman numeral month (I-XII; January = I). |
RR |
Yes |
Lets you store 20th century dates in the 21st century using only two digits. See Also: Additional discussion on |
RRRR |
Yes |
Round year. Accepts either 4-digit or 2-digit input. If 2-digit, provides the same return as RR. If you do not want this functionality, then enter the 4-digit year. |
SS |
Yes |
Second (0-59). |
SSSSS |
Yes |
Seconds past midnight (0-86399). |
TS |
|
Returns a value in the short time format. Makes the appearance of the time components (hour, minutes, and so forth) depend on the Restriction: You can specify this format only with the |
TZD |
Yes |
Daylight savings information. The TZD value is an abbreviated time zone string with daylight savings information. It must correspond with the region specified in TZR. Example: |
TZH |
Yes |
Time zone hour. (See Example: |
TZM |
Yes |
Time zone minute. (See Example: |
TZR |
Yes |
Time zone region information. The value must be one of the time zone regions supported in the database. Example: US/Pacific |
WW |
No |
Week of year (1-53) where week 1 starts on the first day of the year and continues to the seventh day of the year. |
W |
No |
Week of month (1-5) where week 1 starts on the first day of the month and ends on the seventh. |
X |
Yes |
Local radix character. Example: |
Y,YYY |
Yes |
Year with comma in this position. |
YEAR SYEAR |
No |
Year, spelled out; |
YYYY SYYYY |
Yes |
4-digit year; |
YYY YY Y |
Yes |
Last 3, 2, or 1 digit(s) of year. |