Hi, your query can be like this: select field1 from table1 where length(field1) = 4 and is_number(field1) = 1; while is_number is seperate function like this: -- return 1 if input param can be converted to number -- return 0 otherwise create function is_number (p_num in varchar2) return number is n_result pls_integer; begin declare n_num_temp number; begin n_num_temp := to_number(p_num); n_result := 1; exception when others then n_result := 0; end; return n_result; end is_number; / regards, tomi --- "Duret, Kathy" <kduret@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I am having a senior moment today ..... > > sI want to get only those varchar2 fields back with > a length of 4 that are > numeric > > select field from table where length(field) = 4 and > > between '0001' and '9999' - I used this but I get > alpha characters back. > > I know it is something simple but I am just going > blank. > > Kathy __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l