Too late, there it is, in the 'Format models' section of the 8i docs. <sigh> On 2/8/06, Jared Still <jkstill@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > 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 > -- Jared Still Certifiable Oracle DBA and Part Time Perl Evangelist