Help needed in select query to take date

Question

Hello,
I am using Oracle 11g.
I am using this query
select to_date(to_char(to_date((SOURCE_MONTH||'-'||SOURCE_YEAR),'MM-YYYY'),'Mon-YYYY'),'MON-YYYY') date_
from tab1 a,tab2 b
where b.col2=a.col1;
I have a table with 2 separate varchar columns month and year,
I want to insert the data into another table which has the col type as timestamp.
This query gives me the data as
01-NOV-06 but
i want the data as
01-NOV-2006
What should i do for that?
Thanks

Answer 1

First, get rid of the extra conversions from date to char and back to date:
select to_date((SOURCE_MONTH||'-'||SOURCE_YEAR),'MM-YYYY'),'Mon-YYYY')
from tab1 a,tab2 b
where b.col2=a.col1;Now, your data is safely rendered as a DATE. It knows the full year (i.e.2006). You are just not seeing it formatted the way you like. You could
alter session set nls_date_format = 'mm/dd/yyyy hh24:mi:ss';or give the explicit format you want when you query it (with TO_CHAR).
Please read and understand about DATE datatypes....
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b28286/sql_elements001.htm#i54330
In particular, search that page for: "DATE Datatype "