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LPAD(x,a,y,n) 

LPAD(x,a,y,n) is a string function that inserts the character string y at the start of the character string x as often as specified by the parameter a. Leading and subsequent blanks in the character string x are truncated. The optional parameter n defines the maximum total length of the character string created.

The result of the parameter a must be a positive integer.

The optional parameter n must be greater than or equal to the total LENGTH(x)+a*LENGTH(y).

 

 

Result of the LPAD(x,a,y,n) function

LPAD(x,a,y)
x must identify a CHAR or VARCHAR column.

The maximum length of the character string is the length of the character string x.

x or a is the NULL value

NULL value

a is the special NULL value

Error Message

Example table: customer

Creating bar charts: LPAD inserts asterisks in front of the first parameter (in this case, a blank). This is done according to the number equal to account divided by 100.

SELECT name, account, LPAD(' ',TRUNC(account/100),'*',50) graph
FROM customer WHERE account > 0 ORDER BY account DESC

NAME

ACCOUNT

GRAPH

DATASOFT

4813.50

************************************************

TOOLware

3770.50

*************************************

Peters

650.00

******

Brown

440.00

****

Porter

100.00

*

See also:

RPAD(x,a,y,n)

 

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