Hi folks I wish to have all records where the "time_created" is lesser than current date minus one hour. SELECT * FROM trans WHERE status = '0' AND TO_DATE (time_created, 'YYYY/MM/DD-HH24:MI:SS.FF') < SYSDATE - 1 / 24 time_created is a "VARCHAR2(23 Byte)" with the following contents: 2010/10/27-07:33:04.229 2010/10/27-07:33:03.135 2010/10/21-12:43:18.371 error: ORA-01821: date format not recognized cheers Sven -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l