Invalid number while loading a number with a coma as a group separator

Question

Hi,
I'm loading a file in which I have numbers such as -9,999.99. The point is for decimal and the coma for the group separator (thousands).
I did an alter session with a set to NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=".,"
I have no errors with numbers such as -999.99 but as soon as I have a number with a thousand such 1,789.44 I got an invalid number error ??
By the way when I tried to do the SQL statement directly, I also got the error
SQL> select to_number('1,789.55','S999G999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=".,"') from dual;
select to_number('1,789.55','S999G999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=".,"') from dual
ERREUR à la ligne 1 :
ORA-01722: Nombre non valide
What am I missing ? What should I do to avoid the error ?
Thxs in advance for your help.
Rgds
Yves

Answer 1

Look carefully onto your format mask - it begins with 'S'.
Format Model
S
Returns negative value with a leading minus sign (-).
Returns positive value with a leading plus sign (+).
Returns negative value with a trailing minus sign (-).
Returns positive value with a trailing plus sign (+).
Restriction: The S format element can appear only in the first or last position of a number format model.
SQL> select to_number('+1,789.55','S999G999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=''.,''') from dual
  2  /
TO_NUMBER('+1,789.55','S999G999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=''.,''')
                                                             1789.55
SQL> select to_number('1,789.55','999G999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=''.,''') from dual
  2  /
TO_NUMBER('1,789.55','999G999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS=''.,''')
                                                           1789.55Rgds.