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Oracle® Database SQL Language Quick Reference
11g Release 1 (11.1)

Part Number B28285-01
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Overview of Format Models

A format model is a character literal that describes the format of DATETIME or NUMBER data stored in a character string. When you convert a character string into a datetime or number, a format model tells Oracle how to interpret the string.

Number Format Models

You can use number format models:

  • In the TO_CHAR function to translate a value of NUMBER datatype to VARCHAR2 datatype

  • In the TO_NUMBER function to translate a value of CHAR or VARCHAR2 datatype to NUMBER datatype

Number Format Elements

A number format model is composed of one or more number format elements. The following table lists the elements of a number format model.

Table 7-1 Number Format Elements

Element Example Description

, (comma)

9,999

Returns a comma in the specified position. You can specify multiple commas in a number format model.

Restrictions:

  • A comma element cannot begin a number format model.

  • A comma cannot appear to the right of a decimal character or period in a number format model.

. (period)

99.99

Returns a decimal point, which is a period (.) in the specified position.

Restriction: You can specify only one period in a number format model.

$


$9999

Returns value with a leading dollar sign.

0

0999

9990

Returns leading zeros.

Returns trailing zeros.

9

9999

Returns value with the specified number of digits with a leading space if positive or with a leading minus if negative.

Leading zeros are blank, except for a zero value, which returns a zero for the integer part of the fixed-point number.

B

B9999

Returns blanks for the integer part of a fixed-point number when the integer part is zero (regardless of zeros in the format model).

C

C999

Returns in the specified position the ISO currency symbol (the current value of the NLS_ISO_CURRENCY parameter).

D

99D99

Returns in the specified position the decimal character, which is the current value of the NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTER parameter. The default is a period (.).

Restriction: You can specify only one decimal character in a number format model.

EEEE

9.9EEEE

Returns a value using in scientific notation.

G

9G999

Returns in the specified position the group separator (the current value of the NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTER parameter). You can specify multiple group separators in a number format model.

Restriction: A group separator cannot appear to the right of a decimal character or period in a number format model.

L

L999

Returns in the specified position the local currency symbol (the current value of the NLS_CURRENCY parameter).

MI

9999MI

Returns negative value with a trailing minus sign (-).

Returns positive value with a trailing blank.

Restriction: The MI format element can appear only in the last position of a number format model.

PR

9999PR

Returns negative value in <angle brackets>.

Returns positive value with a leading and trailing blank.

Restriction: The PR format element can appear only in the last position of a number format model.

RN

rn

RN

rn

Returns a value as Roman numerals in uppercase.

Returns a value as Roman numerals in lowercase.

Value can be an integer between 1 and 3999.

S

S9999

9999S

Returns negative value with a leading minus sign (-).

Returns positive value with a leading plus sign (+).

Returns negative value with a trailing minus sign (-).

Returns positive value with a trailing plus sign (+).

Restriction: The S format element can appear only in the first or last position of a number format model.

TM

TM

The text minimum number format model returns (in decimal output) the smallest number of characters possible. This element is case insensitive.

The default is TM9, which returns the number in fixed notation unless the output exceeds 64 characters. If the output exceeds 64 characters, then Oracle Database automatically returns the number in scientific notation.

Restrictions:

  • You cannot precede this element with any other element.

  • You can follow this element only with one 9 or one E (or e), but not with any combination of these. The following statement returns an error:

  • SELECT TO_CHAR(1234, 'TM9e') FROM DUAL;

U

U9999

Returns in the specified position the Euro (or other) dual currency symbol (the current value of the NLS_DUAL_CURRENCY parameter).

V

999V99

Returns a value multiplied by 10n (and if necessary, round it up), where n is the number of 9's after the V.

X

XXXX

xxxx

Returns the hexadecimal value of the specified number of digits. If the specified number is not an integer, then Oracle Database rounds it to an integer.

Restrictions:

  • This element accepts only positive values or 0. Negative values return an error.

  • You can precede this element only with 0 (which returns leading zeroes) or FM. Any other elements return an error. If you specify neither 0 nor FM with X, then the return always has 1 leading blank.


Datetime Format Models

You can use datetime format models:

  • In the TO_CHAR, TO_DATE, TO_TIMESTAMP, TO_TIMESTAMP_TZ, TO_YMINTERVAL, and TO_DSINTERVAL datetime functions to translate a character string that is in a format other than the default datetime format into a DATETIME value

  • In the TO_CHAR function to translate a DATETIME value that is in a format other than the default datetime format into a character string

Datetime Format Elements

A datetime format model is composed of one or more datetime format elements. The following table lists the elements of a date format model.

Table 7-2 Datetime Format Elements

Element TO_* datetime functions? TO_CHAR function? Description
-
/
,
.
;
:
"text"

Yes


Punctuation and quoted text is reproduced in the result.

AD
A.D.

Yes


AD indicator with or without periods.

AM
A.M.

Yes


Meridian indicator with or without periods.

BC
B.C.

Yes


BC indicator with or without periods.

CC
SCC

Yes

Century.

  • If the last 2 digits of a 4-digit year are between 01 and 99 (inclusive), then the century is one greater than the first 2 digits of that year.

  • If the last 2 digits of a 4-digit year are 00, then the century is the same as the first 2 digits of that year.

For example, 2002 returns 21; 2000 returns 20.

D

Yes


Day of week (1-7).

DAY

Yes


Name of day, padded with blanks to display width of the widest name of day in the date language used for this element.

DD

Yes


Day of month (1-31).

DDD

Yes


Day of year (1-366).

DL

Yes


Returns a value in the long date format, which is an extension of Oracle Database's DATE format (the current value of the NLS_DATE_FORMAT parameter). Makes the appearance of the date components (day name, month number, and so forth) depend on the NLS_TERRITORY and NLS_LANGUAGE parameters. For example, in the AMERICAN_AMERICA locale, this is equivalent to specifying the format 'fmDay, Month dd, yyyy'. In the GERMAN_GERMANY locale, it is equivalent to specifying the format 'fmDay, dd. Month yyyy'.

Restriction: You can specify this format only with the TS element, separated by white space.

DS

Yes


Returns a value in the short date format. Makes the appearance of the date components (day name, month number, and so forth) depend on the NLS_TERRITORY and NLS_LANGUAGE parameters. For example, in the AMERICAN_AMERICA locale, this is equivalent to specifying the format 'MM/DD/RRRR'. In the ENGLISH_UNITED_KINGDOM locale, it is equivalent to specifying the format 'DD/MM/RRRR'.

Restriction: You can specify this format only with the TS element, separated by white space.

DY

Yes


Abbreviated name of day.

E

Yes


Abbreviated era name (Japanese Imperial, ROC Official, and Thai Buddha calendars).

EE

Yes


Full era name (Japanese Imperial, ROC Official, and Thai Buddha calendars).

FF [1..9]

Yes


Fractional seconds; no radix character is printed (use the X format element to add the radix character). Use the numbers 1 to 9 after FF to specify the number of digits in the fractional second portion of the datetime value returned. If you do not specify a digit, then Oracle Database uses the precision specified for the datetime datatype or the datatype's default precision.

Examples: 'HH:MI:SS.FF'

SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAMP, 'SS.FF3') from dual;

FM

Yes


Returns a value with no leading or trailing blanks.

See Also: Additional discussion on this format model modifier in the Oracle Database SQL Language Reference

FX

Yes


Requires exact matching between the character data and the format model.

See Also: Additional discussion on this format model modifier in the Oracle Database SQL Language Reference

HH
HH12

Yes


Hour of day (1-12).

HH24

Yes


Hour of day (0-23).

IW

Yes

Week of year (1-52 or 1-53) based on the ISO standard.

IYY
IY
I

Yes

Last 3, 2, or 1 digit(s) of ISO year.

IYYY

Yes

4-digit year based on the ISO standard.

J

Yes


Julian day; the number of days since January 1, 4712 BC. Number specified with J must be integers.

MI

Yes


Minute (0-59).

MM

Yes


Month (01-12; January = 01).

MON

Yes


Abbreviated name of month.

MONTH

Yes


Name of month, padded with blanks to display width of the widest name of month in the date language used for this element.

PM
P.M.

Yes


Meridian indicator with or without periods.

Q

Yes

Quarter of year (1, 2, 3, 4; January - March = 1).

RM

Yes


Roman numeral month (I-XII; January = I).

RR

Yes


Lets you store 20th century dates in the 21st century using only two digits.

See Also: Additional discussion on RR datetime format element in the Oracle Database SQL Language Reference

RRRR

Yes


Round year. Accepts either 4-digit or 2-digit input. If 2-digit, provides the same return as RR. If you do not want this functionality, then enter the 4-digit year.

SS

Yes


Second (0-59).

SSSSS

Yes


Seconds past midnight (0-86399).

TS

Yes


Returns a value in the short time format. Makes the appearance of the time components (hour, minutes, and so forth) depend on the NLS_TERRITORY and NLS_LANGUAGE initialization parameters.

Restriction: You can specify this format only with the DL or DS element, separated by white space.

TZD 

Yes


Daylight savings information. The TZD value is an abbreviated time zone string with daylight savings information. It must correspond with the region specified in TZR.

Example: PST (for US/Pacific standard time); PDT (for US/Pacific daylight time).

TZH

Yes


Time zone hour. (See TZM format element.)

Example: 'HH:MI:SS.FFTZH:TZM'.

TZM

Yes


Time zone minute. (See TZH format element.)

Example: 'HH:MI:SS.FFTZH:TZM'.

TZR

Yes


Time zone region information. The value must be one of the time zone regions supported in the database.

Example: US/Pacific

WW

Yes

Week of year (1-53) where week 1 starts on the first day of the year and continues to the seventh day of the year.

W

Yes

Week of month (1-5) where week 1 starts on the first day of the month and ends on the seventh.

X

Yes


Local radix character.

Example: 'HH:MI:SSXFF'.

Y,YYY

Yes


Year with comma in this position.

YEAR
SYEAR

Yes

Year, spelled out; S prefixes BC dates with a minus sign (-).

YYYY
SYYYY

Yes


4-digit year; S prefixes BC dates with a minus sign.

YYY
YY
Y

Yes


Last 3, 2, or 1 digit(s) of year.