Thanks Jim, I learned something today. :) Do you know what at which version the 'fill mode' was introduced? Please don't say 8i, or 7.3. I'd hate to think I had missed it for that long. :) Jared On 2/8/06, Jim Silverman <jsilverman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Krishnan, this is how the to_char function works: it always leaves one > extra leading space in the output to accommodate a potential minus sign > when the format mask consists only of "9"s (and potentially a decimal > point alignment character). You can eliminate this by including the > "fm"(fill-mode) element ( > i.e., "fm99.99"), or use the "tm" (i.e., "text minimum") element. In the > "tm" case, you can only follow this element with a single "9", i.e., "tm9", > in your format mask. > > HTH > > ===================================== > Jim Silverman > Senior Systems Database Administrator > Solucient, LLC > Telephone: 734-669-7641 > FAX: 734-930-7611 > E-Mail: jsilverman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > *From:* oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [ > mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > ]*** On Behalf Of* Krishan Gupta > ***Sent:* Wednesday, February 08, 2006 4:32 PM > ***To:* oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ***Subject:* sql query substr > > Hello List, > > Look into the queries below, why the result of first two > queries is starting with a blank space, and to get rid of this I have to > substr from position 2 rather than 1. > > select substr(to_char(34.25,'99.99'),1,5) col1 from dual; > --result is ' 34.2' > select substr(to_char(-4.25,'99.99'),1,5) col1 from dual; > --result is ' -4.2' > select substr(to_char(34.25,'99.99'),2,5) col1 from dual; > --result is '34.25' > select substr(to_char(-4.25,'99.99'),2,5) col1 from dual; > --result is '-4.25' > > TIA > > Krishan > > This message is a private communication. It may contain information that is > confidential > and legally protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient, > please do > not read, copy or use this message or any attachments, and do not disclose > them to others. > > Please notify the sender of the delivery error by replying to this message, > and then > delete it and any attachments from your system. > > Thank you, > Solucient LLC > (eXclaimer 4x) > > -- Jared Still Certifiable Oracle DBA and Part Time Perl Evangelist