Formats for Numeric Values

The following formats are supported in the second argument of the TO_NUMBER function.

Note: Any formats not listed here are not supported. You must use these formats as a template.


Format	Example	Description
`9`	`999`	Each `9` represents the position of a digit. For example, a format of `999` expects up to three digits in a row. The function returns a result if the input string has 0, 1, 2, or 3 digits. Digits formatted as `9` are required only when they appear before a dot (`.`) and there is a leading `0`. In all other cases, a `9` in the format does not have to map to a digit in the input string.
`0`	`000`	Each `0` also represents the position of a digit. However, `0` values must always map to a digit in the input string, and they cause `9` values that follow them to also behave as `0` values. For example, a format of `099` expects exactly three digits in a row. The `0` must map to a digit in the number string, and two additional digits must follow. A format of `9990000` expects a minimum of four digits: the three `9` values are optional but the four `0` values are required. An input string with less than four digits results in an error.
`.` (period) or `D`	`999.99` or `999D99`	Location of the decimal point. You can specify only one period character in the format string.
`,` (comma) or `G`	`9G999D99` or `9,999D99`	Location of the thousands separator in a number. A format string cannot begin with a comma, and a comma cannot appear to the right of a decimal character or period.
`PR`	`9G999D99PR`	The number string represents a negative value, as defined by the use of angle brackets (for example: `<123.456>`). `PR` must be the last element in the format string and cannot be used in combination with any other signs.
`MI`	`9G999D99MI`	Presence of a minus sign, for numbers less than 0. `MI` must be the last element in the format string. Only one sign element can be used in a format string.
`S`	`9G999D99S`	Presence of a sign anchored to the number, either `+` or `-`. `S` must be the first or last element in the format string. Only one sign element can be used in a format string.
`V`	`9G999V99`	This format divides the input values by `10^n`, where `n` is the number of digits following `V`. `V` cannot be combined with a decimal point (for example, `99.9V99`).