View source for TO CHAR(dates)

<table align='right' border='1'>
<caption>Compatibility</caption>
<tr><th colspan='3'>TO_CHAR(d,'YYYY')</th></tr>
<tr><td align='center'>'''Engine'''</td><td align='center'>'''OK'''</td><td align='center'>'''Alternative'''</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>ingres</td><td>No</td><td>[[EXTRACT |EXTRACT(HOUR from d)]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>mysql</td><td>No</td><td>[[EXTRACT |EXTRACT(HOUR from d)]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>oracle</td><td>Yes</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>postgres</td><td>No</td><td>[[EXTRACT |EXTRACT(HOUR from d)]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>sqlserver</td><td>No</td><td>[[DATEPART |DATEPART(HOUR,d)]]</td></tr>
</table>
<h1>TO_CHAR (dates)</h1>
<p>TO_CHAR allows you to convert a date to a string using a variety of formats. </p>
<p></p> 
<pre style='width:60ex'>
 TO_CHAR(d, 'YYYY') -> Four digit year
 TO_CHAR(d, 'MM')   -> Two digit month
 TO_CHAR(d, 'DD')   -> Two digit day
 TO_CHAR(d, 'HH24') -> Two digit hour
 TO_CHAR(d, 'MI')   -> Two digit minutes
 TO_CHAR(d, 'MON')  -> Three character month
</pre>

<div class='ht'>
In this example you get the month as a three character abbreviation and a four digit year from the date field whn.    
<source lang='sql' class='def e-sqlserver'>
SELECT DATEPART(YEAR from whn) AS v
      ,whn
      ,wht
  FROM eclipse
</source>
<source lang='sql' class='def e-oracle'>
SELECT TO_CHAR(whn, 'MON YYYY') AS v
      ,whn
      ,wht
  FROM gisq.eclipse
</source>
<source lang='sql' class='def'>
SELECT EXTRACT(YEAR from whn) AS v, whn, wht
  FROM eclipse
</source>
</div>

<p>See also</p>
<ul>
  <li>[[EXTRACT |EXTRACT function]]</li>
  <li>[[%2B(dates) |+(date) function]]</li>
  <li>[[HOUR |HOUR function]]</li>
  <li>[[MINUTE |MINUTE function]]</li>
  <li>[[DAY |DAY function]]</li>
  <li>[[MONTH |MONTH function]]</li>
  <li>[[SECOND |SECOND function]]</li>
</ul>