Why do i get integer values instead of decimals when selecting a mysql table through an oracle xe DB?

Question

Hi
My company just started a new project that implies migrating every hour operational data from a mysql database located at another company to our main DB (oracle10gR2). Between these two DB, we have an oracle XE DB which contains the database links to both DB and a procedure to get (from mysql) and insert (oracle10g) the values. What happens is that in the mysql DB, the values have decimals and, when i select the table in oracle, i only see integer values (no decimals). Here is an example of the select i use:
SELECT "v_hour", "v_date", "v_type", "v_tabstamp","v_value"
FROM "tab1"@mysql;
How can i work around this problem?
Many thanks!

Answer 1

Maybe just a HS_LANGUAGE setting issue.
You could try that:
1a) in the gateway init file, please set HS_LANGUAGE=GERMAN_GERMANY.WE8ISO8859P1
2a) now open a new SQL*Plus session ans select from your table using the gateway based database link
=> if the values are now including the decimal part then your foreign database is set up to use a comma as the decimal separator and you have to make sure that the HS_LANGUAGE contains a territory that uses as decimal separator a comma.
If you still do not get the decimal values, then change it to:
1b) HS_LANGUAGE=american_america.we8iso8859P1
2b) Make sure you start again a new SQL*Plus session (the gateway init file is only read when you use the database link in your session for the first time (or explicit closed it before). Select again from your table.
=> is the decimal part now visible?
More details can be found in the gateway note: Gateway and Decimal Digits(Doc ID 1453148.1) available from My Oracle Support portal.
- Klaus