Specify column width from within a query

Hi,

I was wondering if there is a way to dynamically specify the width of a column that is output by a query, from within that query. Similar to the way you can give a column an alias.

I don't mean doing the "COLUMN FORMAT A??" command.

Can't seem to find an answer to this anywhere.

Cheers

you can pad it with spaces if that is what you want

I guess that would work, it's a bit crude though.

Thanks anyway

Crude? There is a function to do it, research rpad()

Hi

Crude ?? :-)

if you can post a small example of what you want then one of us here might help.

regards
Hrishy

Hi again,

Here is an example of the problem I'm trying to solve

If i run this query:

Code:

---

select tablespace_name, file_name
from dba_data_files
order by tablespace_name;

---

I can adjust the column widths output using the "COLUMN FORMAT A??" command

However if I run the query with column aliases:

Code:

---

select tablespace_name "Tablespace Name" , file_name "Data File"
from dba_data_files
order by tablespace_name;

---

All the column formatting I set is ignored and I have very wide columns and an ugly text wrapped table.

How can i get the second query to output the column widths i want?

Thanks

Hi

How about

Code:

---

SQL> set pagesize 500
SQL> column "Tablespace Name" format a30
SQL> column "Data File" format a50
SQL> l
  1  select tablespace_name "Tablespace Name" , file_name "Data File"
  2  from dba_data_files
  3* order by tablespace_name
SQL> /

---

regards
Hrishy

format your column aliases

column "Tablespace Name" format aX
column "Data File" format aX

Thanks hrishy and davey23uk, i had no idea a column alias could have it's width formatted like that.

Brilliant, thanks!