RE: sqlplus question

>
> I am spooling my sqlplus output to a file with no
> headings and all the fields separated by a delimiter. I have
> a field that is defined as varchar2(56), but typically only 4
> or 5 bytes are filled. Oracle recognizes that and if you
> select length(fld1) from the table, you will get 4. But if I
> spool this to a file, I always get the full 56 bytes padded
> with blanks. In other words, I get 4 bytes of data and 52
> blanks for that field. I only want the four valid bytes so
> that my delimiter comes immediately after that 4th byte. My
> sqlplus options are as follows:
>
> set newpage 0 space 0 linesize 5000 pagesize 0 echo off
> recsep off feedback off heading off trimspool on colsep "|"
>

I see using the statement on one line sets all on or off

Show trims

Sounds like your column is getting padded with empty bytes ??? Dispite lentght reporting the actual data

You might have to trim it yourself....
??
bob

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Bob Metelsky
  INET: bmetelsky_at_cps92.com

Fat City Network Services    -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
San Diego, California        -- Mailing list and web hosting services
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).