Hi Lei, maybe this blog entry might help? http://mwidlake.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/decoding-high_value-and-low_value/ Martin wrote several articles about this issue. hth Martin On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 11:09 PM, Lei Zeng <leizeng2003@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hi, list: > I > have a quick question about UTL_RAW.CAST_TO_VARCHAR2 > > Database > version 11.2.0.2 > Database > character set UTF8 > I > set NLS_LANG before using SQLPLUS > > export > NLS_LANG=AMERICAN_AMERICA.UTF8 > SQL> select > utl_raw.cast_to_varchar2(OPTIMIZER_ENV) > from D 2 BA_HIST_OPTIMIZER_ENV where > optimizer_env_hash_value)66359101; > > UTL_RAW.CAST_TO_VARCHAR2(OPTIMIZER_ENV) > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ââââ&â > = ââââââ3 VAEUQâ!UUUETUXYUDâeâUâUUQUQQ"UTââ > UQEBeETTââVn > âETPDiâââ @ â @ @ > ââggâ â ââââââ ââ > > (((P â @)(((ââ âAâ > ââ @ â > > How > I can get a meaningful string from UTL_RAW.CAST_TO_VARCHAR2? > Did I miss anything? > > Thanks in advance, > Lei > > -- > //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l > > > -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l