translate the chars you want to ignore to (say) '@' then replace the @ with null
hth connor --- Mark Richard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > I have a common problem and whilst I can remember > solving it in the past > I'm drawing a mental blank this time... > > I need to look for duplicates in a varchar2 field in > a table. However I > should ignore case, whitespace and non-alphanumeric > characters. Obviously > upper, rtrim and ltrim get me a long way to the > solution, but... What is > the easiest way to remove inline space, so that "the > cat" equals "thecat". > I thought I used the translate function, but a quick > inspection didn't > reveal how. > > Thanks in advance, > Mark. > > <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<---->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > Privileged/Confidential information may be > contained in this message. > If you are not the addressee indicated in > this message > (or responsible for delivery of the message > to such person), > you may not copy or deliver this message > to anyone. > In such case, you should destroy this message and > kindly notify the sender > by reply e-mail or by telephone on (61 3) > 9612-6999. > Please advise immediately if you or your employer > does not consent to > Internet e-mail for messages of this > kind. > Opinions, conclusions and other information > in this message > that do not relate to the official > business of > Transurban City Link Ltd > shall be understood as neither given nor > endorsed by it. > <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<---->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: > http://www.orafaq.net > -- > Author: Mark Richard > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 > http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web > hosting services > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an > E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of > 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB > ORACLE-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed > from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information > (like subscribing). > ===== Connor McDonald web: http://www.oracledba.co.uk web: http://www.oaktable.net email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "GIVE a man a fish and he will eat for a day. But TEACH him how to fish, and...he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: =?iso-8859-1?q?Connor=20McDonald?= INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
