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TO_CHAR
TO_CHAR
Syntax
132
• expression must evaluate to an approximate numeric data type.
• To convert degrees to radians, multiply degrees by Pi/180. To convert radians to degrees,
multiply radians by 180/Pi.
Compatibility
ODBC compatible
Converts the given expression to character form and returns the result. The primary use for
TO_CHAR is to format the output of date-time expressions through the format_string argument.
expression
Converts to character form. It must evaluate to a value of the date or time data type to use
the format_string.
format_string
Specifies the format of the output. SQL ignores the format string if the expression
argument does not evaluate to a date or time.
Notes • The first argument to the function can be of any type.
TO_DATE
Syntax
TO_CHAR ( expresion [ , format_string ] )
• The second argument, if specified, must be of type CHARACTER.
• The result is of type CHARACTER.
• The format argument can be used only when the type of the first argument is DATE.
• If any of the argument expressions evaluates to NULL, the result is NULL.
Compatibility
Progress extension
Converts the given date literal to a date value.
TO_DATE ( date_literal )
Example This example illustrates the TO_DATE function, returning all columns from rows in the orders
table where the order_date column is earlier or equal to the date ‘12/31/2003’: