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Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> Re: SV: Date Format: Mystery
Hi,
>From Note: 69028.1 on Metalink
The datatype returned is 13 and not 12, the external DATE datatype. This occurs because we rely on the TO_DATE function! External datatype 13 is an internal c-structure whose length varies depending on how the c-compiler represents the structure. Note that the "Len=" value is 8 and not 7. Type 13 is not a part of the published 3GL interfaces for Oracle and is used for date calculations mainly within PL/SQL operations. Note that the same result can be seen when DUMPing the value SYSDATE.
Garry Gillies
Database Administrator
Business Systems
Weir Pumps Ltd
149 Newlands Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, G44 4EX
T: +44 0141 308 3982
F: +44 0141 633 1147
E: g.gillies_at_weirpumps.com
Jonathan Gennick
<jonathan_at_gennick To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
.com> <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
Sent by: cc:
ml-errors_at_fatcity Subject: Re: SV: Date Format: Mystery
.com
30/01/04 13:44
Please respond to
ORACLE-L
Friday, January 30, 2004, 2:24:25 AM, Jesper Haure Norrevang
(jhn.aida_at_cbs.dk) wrote:
JHN> Certainly som conversion is going on here. This might be the reason
why
JHN> there has been confusion about 7 or 8 bytes in a DATE datatype.
That's really interesting, that switch between 7 and 8 bytes. Oracle's docs, I believe in the OCI manual, do show a seven-byte format.
JHN> To answer your question, it is possible to deal with fractions of
seconds,
JHN> byt you need to use the TIMESTAMP datatype. The function SYSTIMESTAMP
could
JHN> be useful. Be aware that Oracle supports 9 decimals, but not all
hardware
JHN> platforms do.
Related to this, just because a platform returns, say, six digits, does not mean it increments on that last digit. Instead of:
21.000001 seconds
21.000002 seconds
...
The best your platform does might look like:
21.000001 seconds
21.000801 seconds
21.001601 seconds
...
I just made these numbers up, but hopefully they give the idea.
I'm still curious about that seven versus eight byte thing with SYSDATE.
Best regards,
Jonathan Gennick --- Brighten the corner where you are http://Gennick.com * 906.387.1698 * mailto:jonathan@gennick.com
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-- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: Jonathan Gennick INET: jonathan_at_gennick.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). CONFIDENTIAL: The information contained in this email (including any attachments) is confidential, subject to copyright and for the use of the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient please delete this message after notifying the sender. Unauthorised retention, alteration or distribution of this email is forbidden and may be actionable. Attachments are opened at your own risk and you are advised to scan incoming email for viruses before opening any attached files. We give no guarantee that any communication is virus-free and accept no responsibility for virus contamination or other system loss or damage of any kind. -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: Garry Gillies INET: g.gillies_at_weir.co.uk 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).Received on Fri Jan 30 2004 - 08:59:26 CST
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