Oracle SQL*Plus Pocket Reference, 3rd Edition

SQL*Plus Format Elements

The COLUMN, ACCEPT, SET NUMBER, TTITLE, BTITLE, REPHEADER, and REPFOOTER commands allow you to control data formats using what is called a format specification. A format specification is a string of characters that tells SQL*Plus exactly how to format a number, date, or text string when it is displayed.

Formatting Numbers

Table 1-2 shows the format elements that may be used when formatting numeric output.

Table 1-2. Numeric format elements

Format element	Function
$	Includes a leading dollar sign in the output.
,	Places a comma in the output.
.	Marks the location of the decimal point.
0	Marks the spot at which you want to begin displaying leading zeros.
9	Represents a digit in the output.
B	Forces zero values to be displayed as blanks.
C	Marks the place where you want the ISO currency indicator to appear. For U.S. dollars, this is USD.
D	Marks the location of the decimal point.
DATE	Causes SQL*Plus to assume that the number represents a Julian date and to display it in MM/DD/YY format.
EEEE	Causes SQL*Plus to use scientific notation to display a value. You must use exactly four Es, and they must appear at the right end of the format string.
FM	Prefix: removes any leading or trailing blanks from the return value.
G	Places a group separator (usually a comma) in the output.
L	Marks the place where you want the local currency indicator to appear. For U.S. dollars, this is the dollar sign character.
MI	Adds a trailing negative sign to a number and may be used only at the end of a format string. ...