Try select min(plan_start_dt), min(decode(ord_stat,'OP','',to_char(plan_start_dt,'dd-mon-yy'))) from test_tbl; It's probably the implicit data conversion. ymmv Raj --- Lee Lee <dumbdba@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > grrrrr. > > This should be an easy question. > > I have the following table: > > SQL> desc test_tbl > Name Null? Type > ----------------------------- -------- ------------ > PART_NBR CHAR(25) > ORD_NBR CHAR(10) > PLAN_START_DT DATE > ORD_STAT CHAR(2) > > > > > With the following data: > > PART_NBR ORD_NBR PLAN_STAR OR > ------------------------- ---------- --------- -- > 1234-567 1002003004 07-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 07-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 06-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 06-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 03-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 03-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 02-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 02-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 01-DEC-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 30-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 29-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 23-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 22-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 19-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 18-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 17-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 16-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 15-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 11-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 10-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 10-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 10-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 09-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 08-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 05-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 05-NOV-04 FP > 1234-567 1002003004 03-NOV-04 FP > > Why does this query return different values for each > column, shouldn't they be the same. > > SQL> select min(plan_start_dt), > min(decode(ord_stat,'OP','',plan_start_dt)) > > from test_tbl; > > MIN(PLAN_ MIN(DECOD > --------- --------- > 03-NOV-04 01-DEC-04 > > 1 row selected. > > > Thanks, > Dummy > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers! > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. > -- > Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ > FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > ===== Best Regards Raj --------------------------------------------------------- select mandatory_disclaimer from company_requirements; __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------