converting date to integer

[vikind]

i take SYSDATE(datetime (19)) and transform it to to_integer(to_char(sysdate)) in and integer port and send it
target table with a port UPDATE_DATE (int (4)) .. i get a value of 4 populated in the UPDATE_DATE field.. what shud be the
value of SYSDATE when converted to integer of size 4. I think it shud be "04202004" ..any ideas..is it the right value
that is getting populated.

thanks for ur help

 

[OraBalz]

You can specify the Date format in the way you need your ouput to be.
Foe eg. if you say TO_CHAR(SYSDATE,'yyyymmdd') then you will get 20040420 as output.

 

[vikind]

i was able to get the value 20040420 but if the integer is of size 4 then how come it accepts "20040420" which is more than the required size.

thanks..

 

[ArtieChoke]

int size 4 means a 4-byte integer value, which can hold a value a little over 2 billion (signed - 2^31). only character types have an actual length in the size. numeric values are the number of bytes used to hold the value.

"I think we're all Bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre

 

[vikind]

thanks i got the point now..

appreciate ur help