Getting seconds from interval type

Hi, 
 
I can easily convert number from interval :

select numtodsinterval(1200,'SECOND') from dual;


NUMTODSINTERVAL(1200,'SECOND')
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
+000000000 00:20:00.000000000



But I've found no place where I can convert interval to number again. 


I've found  workaround :

 select extract( SECOND from numtodsinterval(1200,'SECOND'))+
           extract( MINUTE from numtodsinterval(1200,'SECOND'))*60+
           extract( HOUR from numtodsinterval(1200,'SECOND'))*60*60+
           extract( DAY from numtodsinterval(1200,'SECOND'))*60*60*24
  from dual;
 

but this is cumbersome process , I would like to see something like
intervaldstonum(interval,'SECOND') ....

 

Amihay Gonen
DBA,
972-3-90021678

Other related posts: