Removing non-numeric characters from string

Question

Hi there,
I need to have the ability to remove non-numeric characters from a string and I do not know how to do this.
Does any one know a way?
Example:
Present String: [phone]
Required String: 0223454607
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Dear NickM
Try this this will work...........
create or replace function char2num(mstring in varchar2) return integer
is
-- Function to remove Special characters and alphebets from phone no. string field
-- Author - Valid Bharde.(India-Mumbai)
-- Date :- 20 Sept 2006.
-- This Function will return numeric representation.
-- The Folowing program is gifted to NickM with respect to his post on oracle site regarding Removing non-numeric characters from string on the said date
mstatus number :=0;
mnum number:=0;
mrefstring varchar2(50);
begin
mnum := length(mstring);
for x in 1..mnum loop
if (ASCII(substr(upper(mstring),x,1)) >= 48 and ASCII(substr(upper(mstring),x,1)) <= 57) then
mrefstring := mrefstring || substr(mstring,x,1);
end if;
end loop;
return mrefstring;
end;
copy the above program and use it at function for example
SQL> select char2num('(022)-453452781') from dual;
CHAR2NUM('(022)-453452781')
22453452781
Chao!!!