Evaluating a string

[Guest_imported]

Hello!

I want to know if you can "evaluate" a string in SQL,
preferrably Oracle-SQL. I want "2+4+5+1" to be calculated
into "12".

Thanks

/Fredrik M

 

[biff2002]

Use the dummy SQL table DUAL, which allows you to perform your calculation while conforming to the usual SQL syntax.

Eg.

select 2+4+5+1
from dual;

> 12

DUAL is handy for many operations where you don't actually need to retrieve table data eg select sysdate from dual.