To_date

[janjacina]

Hi

I have a problem with cross-impact TO_DATE function and column name.

In table TAB_A is a column with name "TO_DATE" and I would like to use TO_DATE function by selecting from this table in PL/SQL block.

BEGIN
SELECT ..., TO_DATE(NULL,'dd.mm.yyyy'), ... FROM tab_a
UNION ALL
SELECT ..., date_column, ... FROM tab_b;
END;
-- in this case pl/sql compilation failed, because of bad table column using


BEGIN
SELECT ..., STANDARD.TO_DATE(NULL,'dd.mm.yyyy'), ... FROM tab_a
UNION ALL
SELECT ..., date_column, ... FROM tab_b;
END;
-- in this case pl/sql compilation is ok, but when pl/sql is running, the following error is returned -> "invalid column name"


Pls. don't tell me, why i've created a column with that name... I haven't, it has been existed.

[Srinivas_Sharma]

Hi,

How about giving a Column Alias, Wud it work ?

SS

[janjacina]

It is Oracle 8i (I've forgotten to write it)

[janjacina]

I don't know what do you mean with column alias ?

.., to_date(..) as alias_name, ..


??

[Srinivas_Sharma]

Hi,

select to_date as TODAYS_DATE from EMP;

Does the above works in 8i or not.

SS

[janjacina]

yes it works... but i still don't know how can alias help me in this problem...

[Srinivas_Sharma]

hey i tried the below thing and it works fine for me..

create table abc1(to_date date);

insert into abc1 values (to_date('10/01/04','dd/mm/rr'))

select to_date(to_date,'dd/mm/rrrr') as new_date from abc1

I m not sure whether i m understanding the problem correctly or not

SS

[janjacina]

of course it is working like you have written...

but when it is in PL/SQL block and you use statement with union all... i don't know why it doesn't work...

[janjacina]

try to run this

begin
select to_date(to_date,'dd/mm/rrrr') as new_date from abc1;
end;

[Srinivas_Sharma]

Why do u want to do that,,,unless u want to store it in a variable or open a cursor.

dont u thin u shuld have a INTO clause.

do u get me?

SS