Change format of values in a column 2

[timeiu2009]

I'm hoping this will be an easy question for someone who isn't a total SQL noob like myself. I have a table with a column named PHONE_NUMBER, which has thousands of phone numbers all formatted like "123.456.7890". Turns out for the application to work, the phone numbers have to be formatted with dashes like "123-456-7890". What is the best way to change the "."'s to "-"'s?

 

[SQLBill]

Use the REPLACE command. Make the SQL Server BOL (Books Online) your friend.

Anyways the command is simple:

SELECT REPLACE(PHONE_NUMBER, '.', '-')

-SQLBill

The following is part of my signature block and is only intended to be informational.
Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[simian336]

If you want to change the field to the new format, like Bill suggested you would do...

update yourtablenamehere
set PHONE_NUMBER=REPLACE(PHONE_NUMBER, '.', '-')

Simi

 

[timeiu2009]

That did it! Thanks to both of you for the help!