RPAD NVL function

Question

I am using a function in a select statement (saturn_midd.stud_adm_util_miis_pkg.get_email_address(srbrecr_pidm)
It is returning the right results but I am trying to line up correctly, it seems that if value before is null it will move the email
the output, the email should be lining up
00468474 Mr. Eamonn Gallagher 200998 QIPU CMQ LSWA LSAK [email protected]
00469714 Ms. Ly Le P.O. Box 7907, Farin Easton PA 18042 200998 QIPU CMQ L [email protected]
Can I do this in a function
RPAD(NVL(saturn_midd.stud_adm_util_miis_pkg.get_email_address(srbrecr_pidm),' ',50, ' ') email_address,I am using the RPAD function like this
CASE
                   WHEN spraddr_atyp_code = 'CR'
                   AND spraddr_atyp_code != 'CM'
                      THEN RPAD (NVL (spraddr_zip, ' '), 8, ' ')
                END zip1,
                CASE
                   WHEN spraddr_atyp_code = 'CR'
                   AND spraddr_atyp_code != 'CM'
                      THEN RPAD (NVL (spraddr_cnty_code, ' '), 8, ' ')
                END cnty_code1,
                CASE
                   WHEN spraddr_atyp_code = 'CR'
                   AND spraddr_atyp_code != 'CM'
                      THEN RPAD(NVL(spraddr_natn_code, ' '), 8,' ' )Edited by: user648177 on Apr 28, 2009 10:33 AM
Edited by: user648177 on Apr 28, 2009 10:33 AM

Answer 1

Hi,
You asked
Can I do this in a functionWell, yes:
MHO%xe> create or replace function gimme_null
  2  return varchar2
  3  as
  4  begin
  5   return null;
  6  end;
  7  /
Functie is aangemaakt.
Verstreken: 00:00:00.73
MHO%xe> select '$'||rpad(nvl(gimme_null, ' ' ), 10, ' ')||'$' from dual;
'$'||RPAD(NVL(GIMME_NULL,''),10,'')||'$'
$          $
Verstreken: 00:00:00.01
MHO%xe> select length(rpad(nvl(gimme_null, ' ' ), 10, ' ')) from dual;
LENGTH(RPAD(NVL(GIMME_NULL,''),10,''))
                                    10So, I suspect not lining up correctly happens in some preceding column.
Unfortunatly your sample data is unformatted and your query incomplete and we lack the column names you need.
So, that's all I can say based on your inputs sofar....
Edited by: hoek on Apr 28, 2009 8:06 PM turned <>'s into $ so it's visible