Format Models（Number Format、Datetime Format、Format Model Modifier、String-to-Date Conversion Rules）

quoted from:

https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/oracle-database/12.2/sqlrf/Format-Models.html#GUID-DFB23985-2943-4C6A-96DF-DF0F664CED96

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Format Models

A format model is a character literal that describes the format of datetime or numeric data stored in a character string. A format model does not change the internal representation of the value in the database. When you convert a character string into a date or number, a format model determines how Oracle Database interprets the string. In SQL statements, you can use a format model as an argument of the TO_CHAR and TO_DATE functions to specify:

• The format for Oracle to use to return a value from the database

• The format for a value you have specified for Oracle to store in the database

For example:

• The datetime format model for the string '17:45:29' is 'HH24:MI:SS'.

• The datetime format model for the string '11-Nov-1999' is 'DD-Mon-YYYY'.

• The number format model for the string '$2,304.25' is '$9,999.99'.

For lists of number and datetime format model elements, see Table 2-15 and Table 2-17.

The values of some formats are determined by the value of initialization parameters. For such formats, you can specify the characters returned by these format elements implicitly using the initialization parameter NLS_TERRITORY. You can change the default date format for your session with the ALTER SESSION statement.

See Also:

• ALTER SESSION for information on changing the values of these parameters and Format Model Examples for examples of using format models

• TO_CHAR (datetime), TO_CHAR (number), and TO_DATE

• Oracle Database Reference and Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide for information on these parameters

This remainder of this section describes how to use the following format models:

• Number Format Models

• Datetime Format Models

• Format Model Modifiers

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Number Format Elements

A number format model is composed of one or more number format elements. The tables that follow list the elements of a number format model and provide some examples.

Negative return values automatically contain a leading negative sign and positive values automatically contain a leading space unless the format model contains the MI, S, or PR format element.

Table 2-15 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, determined by 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 one leading blank. Refer to the format model modifier FM for more information.

Table 2-16 shows the results of the following query for different values of number and 'fmt':

CopySELECT TO_CHAR(number, 'fmt')
  FROM DUAL;

Table 2-16 Results of Number Conversions

number	'fmt'	Result
-1234567890	9999999999S	'1234567890-'
0	99.99	' .00'
+0.1	99.99	' .10'
-0.2	99.99	' -.20'
0	90.99	' 0.00'
+0.1	90.99	' 0.10'
-0.2	90.99	' -0.20'
0	9999	' 0'
1	9999	' 1'
0	B9999	' '
1	B9999	' 1'
0	B90.99	' '
+123.456	999.999	' 123.456'
-123.456	999.999	'-123.456'
+123.456	FM999.009	'123.456'
+123.456	9.9EEEE	' 1.2E+02'
+1E+123	9.9EEEE	' 1.0E+123'
+123.456	FM9.9EEEE	'1.2E+02'
+123.45	FM999.009	'123.45'
+123.0	FM999.009	'123.00'
+123.45	L999.99	' $123.45'
+123.45	FML999.99	'$123.45'
+1234567890	9999999999S	'1234567890+'

 

 

Table 2-17 Datetime Format Elements

Element	TO_* datetime functions?	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		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). This element depends on the NLS territory of the session.
DAY	Yes	Name of day.
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 the Oracle Database DATE format, determined by 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 data type or the data type's default precision. Valid in timestamp and interval formats, but not in DATE formats. 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: FM
FX	Yes	Requires exact matching between the character data and the format model. See Also: FX
HH HH12	Yes	Hour of day (1-12).
HH24	Yes	Hour of day (0-23).
IW		Calendar week of year (1-52 or 1-53), as defined by the ISO 8601 standard. A calendar week starts on Monday. The first calendar week of the year includes January 4. The first calendar week of the year may include December 29, 30 and 31. The last calendar week of the year may include January 1, 2, and 3.
IYYY		4-digit year of the year containing the calendar week, as defined by the ISO 8601 standard.
IYY IY I		Last 3, 2, or 1 digit(s) of the year containing the calendar week, as defined by the ISO 8601 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.
PM P.M.	Yes	Meridian indicator with or without periods.
Q		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: The RR Datetime Format Element
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 saving information. The TZD value is an abbreviated time zone string with daylight saving information. It must correspond with the region specified in TZR. Valid in timestamp and interval formats, but not in DATE formats. Example: PST (for US/Pacific standard time); PDT (for US/Pacific daylight time).
TZH	Yes	Time zone hour. (See TZM format element.) Valid in timestamp and interval formats, but not in DATE formats. Example: 'HH:MI:SS.FFTZH:TZM'.
TZM	Yes	Time zone minute. (See TZH format element.) Valid in timestamp and interval formats, but not in DATE formats. Example: 'HH:MI:SS.FFTZH:TZM'.
TZR	Yes	Time zone region information. The value must be one of the time zone region names supported in the database. Valid in timestamp and interval formats, but not in DATE formats. Example: US/Pacific
WW		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		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		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.