Insert hour, minute and seconds in database

Question

I need to work with a date with this format:
22/dec/2000:09:10:55
My problem is:
I don't now how to insert it in my database. If I declare a field date it doesn't works, even if i use To_date.
if I declare a field varchar2 I cant do operation like the difference between hours and minutes.
Thanks.
I work with oracle7.

Answer 1

Internally oracle stores a date variable in
integer form and hence the format is irrelevant. You can use any format that includes second's and minutes, as you need it.
What matters is how you retrieve it.
While retrieving it if you put the fetched value in date variable then things are fine, but if you want it in char / varchar then use
to_date('date_field','<format>')
I feel what you are trying to do is select on sql prompt and see the min and seconds.
I suggest you check your nls_date_format parameter on sql environment for your default date format.
You could set it according to your need like this
alter session set nls_date_format='dd-mon-yyyy hh24:mi:ss';
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