Oracle Conversion Functions
Version 11.1
 
Note: Functions for converting to date, numeric, string, and timestamp data types can be found through the related links.
 
ASCIISTR
Converts An ASCII String To An ASCII String In The Database's Character Set ASCIISTR(ch VARCHAR2 CHARACTER SET ANY_CS)
RETURN VARCHAR2 CHARACTER SET ch%CHARSET;
SELECT ASCIISTR(CHR(128) || 'Hello' || CHR(255))
FROM dual;
 
BFILENAME
Returns a BFILE from a combination of a directory and a file name BFILENAME(directory IN VARCHAR2, filename IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BFILE;
DECLARE
 src_file BFILE;
BEGIN
  src_file := bfilename('CTEMP', 'myfile.txt');
END;
/
 
BIN_TO_NUM
Converts a bit vector to a number BIN_TO_NUM(<value>,<value>,....)
SELECT BIN_TO_NUM(1, 0, 1, 0) FROM dual;
 
CAST
Converts one built-in datatype or collection-typed value into another built-in datatype or collection-typed value CAST(<string_or_column> AS <DATATYPE>)
SELECT CAST(15402 AS VARCHAR2(30))
FROM dual;
 
CHARTOROWID
Converts a value from CHAR, VARCHAR2, NCHAR, or NVARCHAR2 datatype to ROWID datatype CHARTOROWID(<char>);
conn hr/hr

SELECT rowid
FROM employees;

SELECT last_name
FROM employees
WHERE ROWID = CHARTOROWID('AAAQvRAAFAAAABYAAp');
 
COMPOSE
Convert a string in any data type to a Unicode string COMPOSE(<string_or_column>)
Unistring Value Resulting character
unistr('\0300') grave accent (`)
unistr('\0301') acute accent (�)
unistr('\0302') circumflex (ˆ)
unistr('\0303') tilde (~)
unistr('\0308') umlaut (�)
SELECT 'ol' || COMPOSE('e' || UNISTR('\0301')) FROM dual;
 
CONVERT
Converts a character string from one character set to another CONVERT(<char>, <dest_char_set>, <source_char_set>)
SELECT CONVERT('� � � � � A B C D E','US7ASCII','WE8ISO8859P1')
FROM dual;
 
DECOMPOSE
Converts a unicode string to a string DECOMPOSE(<unicode_string>)
SELECT DECOMPOSE('ol' || COMPOSE('e' || UNISTR('\0301')))
FROM dual;
 
HEXTORAW
Converts char containing hexadecimal digits in the CHAR, VARCHAR2, NCHAR, or NVARCHAR2 character set to a raw value HEXTORAW(<hex_value>)
CREATE TABLE test (
raw_col RAW(10));

desc test

INSERT INTO test VALUES (HEXTORAW('7D'));

SELECT * FROM test;
 
NUMTODSINTERVAL
Converts a number to an INTERVAL DAY TO SECOND literal NUMTODSINTERVAL(n, <interval_unit>)
SELECT NUMTODSINTERVAL(120, 'DAY') FROM dual;

SELECT NUMTODSINTERVAL(1200, 'HOUR') FROM dual;

SELECT NUMTODSINTERVAL(12000, 'MINUTE') FROM dual;

SELECT NUMTODSINTERVAL(120000, 'SECOND') FROM dual;
 
NUMTOYMINTERVAL
Converts n to an INTERVAL YEAR TO MONTH literal NUMTOYMINTERVAL(n, <interval_unit>)
conn hr/hr

SELECT last_name, hire_date, salary, SUM(salary)
OVER (ORDER BY hire_date
RANGE NUMTOYMINTERVAL(1, 'YEAR') PRECEDING) AS t_sal
FROM employees;
 
RAWTOHEX
Converts raw to a character value containing its hexadecimal equivalent RAWTOHEX(<raw_value>)
CREATE TABLE test (
raw_col RAW(10));

desc test

INSERT INTO test VALUES (HEXTORAW('7D'));

SELECT * FROM test;
SELECT RAWTOHEX(raw_col) HEXVAL
FROM test;
 
RAWTONHEX
Converts raw to an NVARCHAR2 character value containing its hexadecimal equivalent RAWTONHEX(<raw_value>);
col dumpcol format a30

SELECT RAWTONHEX(raw_col) HEXVAL, dump(raw_col) dumpcol
FROM test;
 
REFTOHEX
Converts argument expr to a character value containing its hexadecimal equivalent. expr must return a REF. REFTOHEX(<expression>);
conn oe/oe

CREATE TABLE warehouse_table OF warehouse_typ
(PRIMARY KEY (warehouse_id));

CREATE TABLE location_table (
location_number NUMBER,
building        REF warehouse_typ SCOPE IS warehouse_table);

INSERT INTO warehouse_table VALUES (1, 'Downtown', 99);

INSERT INTO location_table SELECT 10, REF(w)
FROM warehouse_table w;

SELECT REFTOHEX(building) FROM location_table;

DROP TABLE warehouse_table PURGE;
 
ROWIDTOCHAR
Converts a rowid value to VARCHAR2 datatype ROWIDTOCHAR(rowid);
SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM servers;

SELECT rowid
FROM servers
WHERE rownum < 11;

SELECT ROWID
FROM servers
WHERE ROWIDTOCHAR(ROWID) LIKE '%AAB%';
 
ROWIDTONCHAR
Converts a rowid value to NVARCHAR2 datatype ROWIDTOCHAR(rowid)
See ROWIDTOCHAR demo above
 
SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP
Returns the approximate Timestamp for an SCN SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP(<scn>);
SELECT current_scn
FROM gv$database;

SELECT SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP(8215026-250000)
FROM dual;
 
TIMESTAMP_TO_SCN
Returns the approximate SCN for a timestamp TIMESTAMP_TO_SCN(<timestamp>)
SELECT TIMESTAMP_TO_SCN(SYSTIMESTAMP)
FROM dual;
 
TO_BINARY_DOUBLE
Converts a Value to the BINARY_DOUBLE Data Type TO_BINARY_DOUBLE(<value>);
See TO_NUMBER demo, below.
 
TO_BINARY_FLOAT
Converts a Value to the BINARY_FLOAT Data Type TO_BINARY_FLOAT(<value>) RETURN BINARY_FLOAT
See TO_NUMBER demo, below.
 
TO_CHAR
Convert Datatype To String TO_CHAR(<string_or_column>, <format>) RETURN VARCHAR2
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'MM/DD/YYYY HH:MI:SS') FROM dual;
Converts  DATE and  TIMESTAMP to VARCHAR2  with the specified format TO_DATE(<date_string>, <format mask>, <NLS_PARAMETER>)
SELECT TO_CHAR(datecol1, 'DAY-MONTH-YY') COL1,
       TO_CHAR(datecol2, 'D-MM/YYYY HH24:MI:SS') COL2,
       TO_CHAR(datecol2, 'YYYY-MON-DD HH24') COL3
FROM t;
Demo of FM Formatting From Tom Kyte (Oracle Magazine 3-4/2004) SELECT TO_CHAR(dt, 'HH:MI AM') A,
       TO_CHAR(dt, 'FMHH:MI AM') B,
       TO_CHAR(dt, 'FMHHFM:MI AM') C
FROM (SELECT TO_DATE('09:01 am', 'HH:MI AM') dt FROM dual);
Convert NUMBER to CHARACTER TO_CHAR(number)
SELECT TO_CHAR(123)
FROM dual;
Convert NUMBER to HEX TO_CHAR(NUMBER) RETURN HEX
SELECT TO_CHAR(1048576,'XXXXXXXX')
FROM dual;
 
TO_CLOB
Converts CHAR, NCHAR, VARCHAR2, NVARCHAR2, or  NCLOB values to CLOB values TO_CLOB(<char_or_lob_column_or_value>) RETURN CLOB
SELECT TO_CLOB('Some value')
FROM dual;
 
TO_DATE
Convert A String With Default Format To A Date TO_DATE(<string>) RETURN DATE
SELECT TO_DATE('01-JAN-2004') FROM dual;
Convert A String With A Non-Default Format To A Date TO_DATE(<string>, <format mask>)
SELECT TO_DATE('01/01/2004', 'MM/DD/YYYY') FROM dual;
Convert A String With A Non-Default Format And Specify The Language TO_DATE(<string>, <format mask>) RETURN DATE
SELECT TO_DATE('January 12, 2005, 11:03 A.M.', 'MONTH DD, YYYY, HH:MI A.M.', 'NLS_DATE_LANGUAGE = American')
FROM dual;
Convert A String With A Non-Default Format And Specify The Language TO_DATE(<date_string>, <format mask>, <NLS_PARAMETER>) RETURN DATE
ALTER SESSION SET NLS_TERRITORY = 'JAPAN';

SELECT TO_DATE('January 12, 2005, 11:03 A.M.', 'Month dd, YYYY, HH:MI A.M.', 'NLS_DATE_LANGUAGE = American')
FROM DUAL;

ALTER SESSION SET NLS_TERRITORY = 'AMERICA';
Convert A String To 24 Hour Time TO_DATE(<date_string>, <format mask>) RETURN DATE
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'MM/DD/YY HH24:MI:SS') FROM dual;
 
TO_DSINTERVAL
Converts A String To An INTERVAL DAY TO SECOND DataType TO_DSINTERVAL(<date_string>, <format mask>, <NLS_PARAMETER>)
conn hr/hr

SELECT employee_id, last_name
FROM employees
WHERE hire_date + TO_DSINTERVAL('100 10:00:00') <= DATE '1990-01-01';
 
TO_LOB
Converts LONG or LONG RAW values in the column long_column to LOB values TO_LOB(long_column) RETURN LOB
desc user_triggers

CREATE TABLE lobtest (
testcol CLOB);

INSERT INTO lobtest
SELECT TO_LOB(trigger_body)
FROM user_triggers;
 
TO_MULTI_BYTE
Returns char with all of its single-byte characters converted to their corresponding multibyte characters TO_MULTI_BYTE(character_string)
-- must be run in a UTF8 database to see the difference
SELECT dump('A') FROM dual;

SELECT dump(TO_MULTI_BYTE('A')) FROM dual;
 
TO_NCHAR
Converts a DATE or  TIMESTAMP from the database character set to the National Character Set specificed TO_NCHAR(<date_string | interval | CLOB | number>,
<format mask>, <NLS_PARAMETER>) RETURN NCHAR
SELECT TO_NCHAR('ABC')
FROM dual;

SELECT TO_NCHAR(1048576)
FROM dual;

conn oe/oe

SELECT TO_NCHAR(order_date)
FROM orders
WHERE order_status > 9;
 
TO_NCLOB
Converts CLOB values in a LOB column or other character strings to NCLOB TO_NCLOB(lob_or_character_value) RETURN NCLOB
CREATE TABLE nclob_test(
nclobcol  NCLOB);

desc nclob_test

INSERT INTO nclob_test
(nclobcol)
VALUES
(TO_NCLOB('Convert this text into the NCLOB data type'));
 
TO_NUMBER
Converts a string to the NUMBER data type TO_NUMBER(<value>[, <format>, <NLS parameter>]) RETURN NUMBER
CREATE TABLE test (
testcol VARCHAR2(10));

INSERT INTO test VALUES ('12345.67');

SELECT TO_BINARY_DOUBLE(testcol) BIN_DOUBLE, TO_BINARY_FLOAT(testcol) BIN_FLOAT, TO_NUMBER(testcol) NMBR
FROM test;
Converts a HEX number to FLOAT TO_NUMBER(<value>, <format>);
SELECT TO_NUMBER('0A', 'XX')
FROM dual;
Converts a HEX number to DECIMAL TO_NUMBER(<binary_float | binary_double | number>,
'<hex mask>') RETURN <binary_float | binary_double | number>;
SELECT TO_NUMBER(100000,'XXXXXXXX')
FROM dual;
 
TO_SINGLE_BYTE
Returns char with all of its multibyte characters converted to their corresponding single-byte characters TO_SINGLE_BYTE(character_string)
-- must be run in a UTF8 database to see the difference

SELECT TO_SINGLE_BYTE(CHR(15711393))
FROM dual;
 
TO_TIMESTAMP
Converts a string to an Timestamp Data Type TO_TIMESTAMP(<date_string>, <format mask>, <NLS_PARAMETER>)
RETURN TIMESTAMP
SELECT TO_TIMESTAMP('2004-12-01 11:00:00','YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS')
FROM dual;
 
TO_TIMESTAMP_TZ
Converts a string to an Timestamp with Timezone Data Type TO_TIMESTAMP(<date_string>, <format mask>, <NLS_PARAMETER>)
RETURN TIMESTAMP WITH TIMEZONE
SELECT TO_TIMESTAMP_TZ('2004-12-01 11:00:00 -8:00',
'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS TZH:TZM') FROM dual;
 
TO_YMINTERVAL
Converts a character string of CHAR, VARCHAR2, NCHAR, or NVARCHAR2 datatype to an INTERVAL YEAR TO MONTH type TO_YMINTERVAL(<char>) RETURN YMINTERVAL
SELECT hire_date, hire_date+TO_YMINTERVAL('01-02') "14 months"
FROM emp;
 
TRANSLATE USING
Converts char into the character set specified for conversions between the database character set and the national character set TRANSLATE(char_string USING <CHAR_CS character_set | NCHAR_CS character set>)
conn oe/oe

CREATE TABLE translate_tab (
char_col  VARCHAR2(100),
nchar_col NVARCHAR2(50));

desc translate_tab

INSERT INTO translate_tab
SELECT NULL, translated_name
FROM product_descriptions
WHERE product_id = 3501;

col char_col format a30
col nchar_col format a30

SELECT * FROM translate_tab;

UPDATE translate_tab
SET char_col = TRANSLATE(nchar_col USING CHAR_CS);

SELECT * FROM translate_tab;
 
UNISTR
Convert String To The National Character Set (either UTF8 or UTF16) UNISTR(ch VARCHAR2 CHARACTER SET ANY_CS) RETURN NVARCHAR2;
SELECT UNISTR(ASCIISTR(CHR(128) || 'Hello' || CHR(255)))
FROM dual;
 
Related Topics
Date Functions
Numeric Functions
String Functions
Timestamp
XML Functions
 
Contact Us Legal Notices and Terms of UsePrivacy Statement
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1