Clean up output when using concat for two columns?

Question

Probably a basic questions, but I searched this forum and google and couldn't find an answer, so here it goes...
I'm trying to concatenate two fields: first_name and last_name
I'm using the following pl/sql:
concat(a.first_name, a.last_name)But it runs the name together
smithjohn And the title shows the following
concat(a.first_name,a.last_name)And this output is going to a non-technical users, so I don't want them to freak out...
I've tried this as well
a.first_name||' '||a.last_nameAnd now the column, I get the following:
Smith John But the column heading shows
a.first_name||""||a.last_nameIs there anyway I can clean up the column heading so the end users won't be confused...?
thanks
Message was edited by:
cmmiller

Answer 1

For renaming the title of the column use an alias with "AS" or just put the alias after the concatenation.
Examples:
denunez@XE> select e.first_name||' '||e.last_name as Name from employees e  where rownum <3
  2  ;
NAME
Ellen Abel
Sundar Ande
denunez@XE> select e.first_name||' '||e.last_name Name from employees e  where rownum <3
  2  ;
NAME
Ellen Abel
Sundar Ande
denunez@XE> select e.first_name||' '||e.last_name "Employee Name" from employees e where rownum<3;
Employee Name
Ellen Abel
Sundar Ande