How about something like this: update table set column = substr(column,0,instr(column,':')) || ':9999999999' or something like that. First, do a: select substr(column,0,instr(column,':')) || ':9999999999' from table; to make sure I got the syntax right--I haven't checked it. Once you get it right, plug it in, check it and, if it's right, commit it. Dan ----- Original Message ---- From: Bala <oratips@xxxxxxxxx> To: oracle-l <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 4:29:03 PM Subject: Oracle SQL help -- Want to update a column of a table with 150,000 rows columns values are like "JOHN THOMPSON:0011442717" Want to change the numeric value after ":" of each row to a 10 digit constant numeric 9999999999 for all 150,000 rows -- Thanks for all ideas and help. -- Bala Rao