Funny problem while using the LIKE operator

From: Maulik <maulik67_at_hotmail.com>
Date: 17 Sep 2002 06:45:34 -0700
Message-ID: <e5c3b3e5.0209170545.55ac8cca@posting.google.com>

Hello all,

Please pardon me if this is my second posting on the same subject.

Oracle 8.1.6,
sqlplus

I m using the database example table(EMP and DEPT) which come standard with the oracle database installation.

Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.6.3.0 - Production With the Partitioning option
JServer Release 8.1.6.3.0 - Production

SQL> select * from emp;

     EMPNO ENAME      JOB              MGR HIREDATE                
SAL       COMM     DEPTNO


---------- ---------- --------- ---------- -----------------

---------- ---------- ----------

      7369 SMITH      CLERK           7902 17121980 00:00:00       
800                    20
      7499 ALLEN      SALESMAN        7698 20021981 00:00:00      
1600        300         30
      7521 WARD       SALESMAN        7698 22021981 00:00:00      
1250        500         30
      7566 JONES      MANAGER         7839 02041981 00:00:00      
2975                    20
      7654 MARTIN     SALESMAN        7698 28091981 00:00:00      
1250       1400         30
      7698 BLAKE      MANAGER         7839 01051981 00:00:00      
2850                    30
      7782 CLARK      MANAGER         7839 09061981 00:00:00      
2450                    10
      7788 SCOTT      ANALYST         7566 09121982 00:00:00      
3000                    20
      7839 KING       PRESIDENT            17111981 00:00:00      
5000                    10
      7844 TURNER     SALESMAN        7698 08091981 00:00:00      
1500          0         30
      7876 ADAMS      CLERK           7788 12011983 00:00:00      
1100                    20
      7900 JAMES      CLERK           7698 03121981 00:00:00       
950                    30
      7902 FORD       ANALYST         7566 03121981 00:00:00      
3000                    20
      7934 MILLER     CLERK           7782 23011982 00:00:00      
1300                    10

14 rows selected.

SQL> select ename from emp where hiredate like '%81';

no rows selected

SQL> select ename from emp where hiredate like '%81%';

ENAME

---

ALLEN
WARD
JONES
MARTIN
BLAKE
CLARK
KING
TURNER
JAMES
FORD 10 rows selected.

Upon selecting LIKE operator with '%81', i do not get any rows!!! Is this behaviour normal??? because in other words i am asking it return to me the data with hiredate ending in 81! And the funny thing about this is that, this example is given in Oracle Reference library!!!

Your help is very much appreciated Received on Tue Sep 17 2002 - 08:45:34 CDT