Re: Why length(to_char(1::integer, '9')) = 2 ?

[Dmitriy Igrishin <dmitigr@xxxxxxxxx>]

2011/3/9 Sim Zacks <sim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

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On 03/09/2011 03:12 PM, Dmitriy Igrishin wrote:

> Hey all,
>
> dmitigr=> select to_char(1, '9');
> to_char
> ---------
> 1
>
> dmitigr=> select length(to_char(1, '9'));
> length
> --------
> 2
>
> Why to_char() includes preceding blank space in the result ?
>
> --
> // Dmitriy.
>
>

I don't know why, but to work around it use:
select to_char(1, 'FM9');
select length(to_char(1, 'FM9'));

Thanks!

But I am missing something or there is a documentation inaccuracy:
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.0/static/functions-formatting.html#FUNCTIONS-FORMATTING-NUMERICMOD-TABLE says:
fill mode (suppress padding blanks and zeroes)

Test:
dmitigr=> select to_char(12,'FM0009');
Âto_char
---------
Â0012

dmitigr=> select length(to_char(12,'FM0009'));
Âlength
--------
ÂÂÂÂÂ 4

So, FM suppresses only padding blanks not zeroes...

Any comments?

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-- 
// Dmitriy.