need something like Replace function

does a function exist like replace where you can replace multiple values?

Example that shows the idea but does not work is

SELECT REPLACE(field_a,'M','Monday','T','Tuesday')
FROM mytable

TIA

http://download-west.oracle.com/docs...ns2a.htm#80856

I already spent 30 minutes at that site (before coming here) and could not find what I was looking for. the two closest things were replace and translate. neither seem to do what I want. I am sure I am just overlooking something really easy. or it might just exist, but I thought I would try here before I say it can't be done.

Look at decode function. Look at coalesce in 9i.

Hi

"Case" can do this for you as well

select CASE when field_a = 'M' ,'Monday'
when field_a = 'T' ,'TUESDAY'
when ...

else 'Not a Valid Day'
end
from your_table;

regards
Hrishy

If your input string is like: 'MWF' and you want 'MondayWednesdayFriday' as the result, the easiest is
REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(instring,'M','Monday'),'W','Wednesday'),'F','Friday')
(generalise for 7 days . . .)

Thanks everyone for the responses. Stecal had what I needed in the decode function.