Oracle PL/SQL Tutorial/Character String Functions/RPAD

Call RPAD function in PL/SQL

SQL>
SQL>
SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION rulerstr (len IN INTEGER) RETURN VARCHAR2
  2  IS
  3     digits CHAR(10) := "1234567890";
  4  BEGIN
  5     RETURN RPAD (digits, len, digits);
  6  END;
  7  /
Function created.
SQL>
SQL> select rulerstr(3) from dual;
RULERSTR(3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
123
SQL>

Right padding the name of department

SQL>
SQL> create table departments
  2  ( deptno NUMBER(2)
  3  , dname  VARCHAR2(10)
  4  , location VARCHAR2(20)
  5  , mgr    NUMBER(4)
  6  ) ;
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> insert into departments values (10,"ACCOUNTING","NEW YORK" ,  2);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into departments values (20,"TRAINING",  "VANCOUVER",  3);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into departments values (30,"SALES",     "CHICAGO",    4);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into departments values (40,"HR",        "BOSTON",     5);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> select dname, rpad(dname,6,"<")
  2  from   departments;
DNAME      RPAD(D
---------- ------
ACCOUNTING ACCOUN
TRAINING   TRAINI
SALES      SALES<
HR         HR<<<<
SQL>
SQL> drop table departments;
Table dropped.
SQL>

Rpad

Add (padding) a specified set of characters to the right of the original string. RPAD stands for "right pad." The general format for this function is:

RPAD(string, length_to_make_string, what_to_add_to_right_of_string)

SQL> SELECT RPAD("Letters", 20, ".") FROM dual;
RPAD("LETTERS",20,".
--------------------
Letters.............
SQL>

RPAD() with number column

SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- create demo table
SQL> create table Employee(
  2    ID                 VARCHAR2(4 BYTE)         NOT NULL,
  3    First_Name         VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  4    Last_Name          VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  5    Start_Date         DATE,
  6    End_Date           DATE,
  7    Salary             Number(8,2),
  8    City               VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  9    Description        VARCHAR2(15 BYTE)
 10  )
 11  /
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> -- prepare data
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2               values ("01","Jason",    "Martin",  to_date("19960725","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("20060725","YYYYMMDD"), 1234.56, "Toronto",  "Programmer")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("02","Alison",   "Mathews", to_date("19760321","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19860221","YYYYMMDD"), 6661.78, "Vancouver","Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("03","James",    "Smith",   to_date("19781212","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19900315","YYYYMMDD"), 6544.78, "Vancouver","Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("04","Celia",    "Rice",    to_date("19821024","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19990421","YYYYMMDD"), 2344.78, "Vancouver","Manager")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("05","Robert",   "Black",   to_date("19840115","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19980808","YYYYMMDD"), 2334.78, "Vancouver","Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary, City,        Description)
  2                values("06","Linda",    "Green",   to_date("19870730","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19960104","YYYYMMDD"), 4322.78,"New York",  "Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary, City,        Description)
  2                values("07","David",    "Larry",   to_date("19901231","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19980212","YYYYMMDD"), 7897.78,"New York",  "Manager")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary, City,        Description)
  2                values("08","James",    "Cat",     to_date("19960917","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("20020415","YYYYMMDD"), 1232.78,"Vancouver", "Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- display data in the table
SQL> select * from Employee
  2  /
ID   FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME  START_DAT END_DATE      SALARY CITY       DESCRIPTION
---- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------------
01   Jason      Martin     25-JUL-96 25-JUL-06    1234.56 Toronto    Programmer
02   Alison     Mathews    21-MAR-76 21-FEB-86    6661.78 Vancouver  Tester
03   James      Smith      12-DEC-78 15-MAR-90    6544.78 Vancouver  Tester
04   Celia      Rice       24-OCT-82 21-APR-99    2344.78 Vancouver  Manager
05   Robert     Black      15-JAN-84 08-AUG-98    2334.78 Vancouver  Tester
06   Linda      Green      30-JUL-87 04-JAN-96    4322.78 New York   Tester
07   David      Larry      31-DEC-90 12-FEB-98    7897.78 New York   Manager
08   James      Cat        17-SEP-96 15-APR-02    1232.78 Vancouver  Tester
8 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL> SELECT RPAD(salary, 30, ".") FROM employee
  2  /
RPAD(SALARY,30,".")
------------------------------
1234.56.......................
6661.78.......................
6544.78.......................
2344.78.......................
2334.78.......................
4322.78.......................
7897.78.......................
1232.78.......................
8 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- clean the table
SQL> drop table Employee
  2  /
Table dropped.
SQL>
SQL>

RPAD(x, width [, pad_string]) pads x with spaces to right to bring the total length of the string up to width characters

If a string is supplied in pad_string, this string is repeated to the right to fill up the padded space.

SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- create demo table
SQL> create table Employee(
  2    ID                 VARCHAR2(4 BYTE)         NOT NULL,
  3    First_Name         VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  4    Last_Name          VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  5    Start_Date         DATE,
  6    End_Date           DATE,
  7    Salary             Number(8,2),
  8    City               VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  9    Description        VARCHAR2(15 BYTE)
 10  )
 11  /
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> -- prepare data
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2               values ("01","Jason",    "Martin",  to_date("19960725","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("20060725","YYYYMMDD"), 1234.56, "Toronto",  "Programmer")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("02","Alison",   "Mathews", to_date("19760321","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19860221","YYYYMMDD"), 6661.78, "Vancouver","Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("03","James",    "Smith",   to_date("19781212","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19900315","YYYYMMDD"), 6544.78, "Vancouver","Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("04","Celia",    "Rice",    to_date("19821024","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19990421","YYYYMMDD"), 2344.78, "Vancouver","Manager")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary,  City,       Description)
  2                values("05","Robert",   "Black",   to_date("19840115","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19980808","YYYYMMDD"), 2334.78, "Vancouver","Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary, City,        Description)
  2                values("06","Linda",    "Green",   to_date("19870730","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19960104","YYYYMMDD"), 4322.78,"New York",  "Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary, City,        Description)
  2                values("07","David",    "Larry",   to_date("19901231","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("19980212","YYYYMMDD"), 7897.78,"New York",  "Manager")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into Employee(ID,  First_Name, Last_Name, Start_Date,                     End_Date,                       Salary, City,        Description)
  2                values("08","James",    "Cat",     to_date("19960917","YYYYMMDD"), to_date("20020415","YYYYMMDD"), 1232.78,"Vancouver", "Tester")
  3  /
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- display data in the table
SQL> select * from Employee
  2  /
ID   FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME  START_DAT END_DATE      SALARY CITY       DESCRIPTION
---- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------------
01   Jason      Martin     25-JUL-96 25-JUL-06    1234.56 Toronto    Programmer
02   Alison     Mathews    21-MAR-76 21-FEB-86    6661.78 Vancouver  Tester
03   James      Smith      12-DEC-78 15-MAR-90    6544.78 Vancouver  Tester
04   Celia      Rice       24-OCT-82 21-APR-99    2344.78 Vancouver  Manager
05   Robert     Black      15-JAN-84 08-AUG-98    2334.78 Vancouver  Tester
06   Linda      Green      30-JUL-87 04-JAN-96    4322.78 New York   Tester
07   David      Larry      31-DEC-90 12-FEB-98    7897.78 New York   Manager
08   James      Cat        17-SEP-96 15-APR-02    1232.78 Vancouver  Tester
8 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL> SELECT RPAD(first_name, 30, ".") FROM employee
  2  /
RPAD(FIRST_NAME,30,".")
------------------------------
Jason.........................
Alison........................
James.........................
Celia.........................
Robert........................
Linda.........................
David.........................
James.........................
8 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- clean the table
SQL> drop table Employee
  2  /
Table dropped.
SQL>

Use both lpad() and rpad() to create a string

SQL> create table employees(
  2    empno      NUMBER(4)
  3  , ename      VARCHAR2(8)
  4  , init       VARCHAR2(5)
  5  , job        VARCHAR2(8)
  6  , mgr        NUMBER(4)
  7  , bdate      DATE
  8  , msal       NUMBER(6,2)
  9  , comm       NUMBER(6,2)
 10  , deptno     NUMBER(2) ) ;
Table created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> insert into employees values(1,"Jason",  "N",  "TRAINER", 2,   date "1965-12-18",  800 , NULL,  10);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(2,"Jerry",  "J",  "SALESREP",3,   date "1966-11-19",  1600, 300,   10);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(3,"Jord",   "T" , "SALESREP",4,   date "1967-10-21",  1700, 500,   20);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(4,"Mary",   "J",  "MANAGER", 5,   date "1968-09-22",  1800, NULL,  20);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(5,"Joe",    "P",  "SALESREP",6,   date "1969-08-23",  1900, 1400,  30);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(6,"Black",  "R",  "MANAGER", 7,   date "1970-07-24",  2000, NULL,  30);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(7,"Red",    "A",  "MANAGER", 8,   date "1971-06-25",  2100, NULL,  40);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(8,"White",  "S",  "TRAINER", 9,   date "1972-05-26",  2200, NULL,  40);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(9,"Yellow", "C",  "DIRECTOR",10,  date "1973-04-27",  2300, NULL,  20);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into employees values(10,"Pink",  "J",  "SALESREP",null,date "1974-03-28",  2400, 0,     30);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL> select lpad(msal,4)||" "||
  2         rpad("o",msal/100,"o") as histogram
  3  from   employees;
HISTOGRAM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 800 oooooooo
1600 oooooooooooooooo
1700 ooooooooooooooooo
1800 oooooooooooooooooo
1900 ooooooooooooooooooo
2000 oooooooooooooooooooo
2100 ooooooooooooooooooooo
2200 oooooooooooooooooooooo
2300 ooooooooooooooooooooooo
2400 oooooooooooooooooooooooo
10 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> drop table employees;
Table dropped.

Use rpad function with define column default value

SQL>
SQL> create table t
  2  ( a int,
  3    b varchar2(4000) default rpad("*",4000,"*"),
  4    c varchar2(3000) default rpad("*",3000,"*" )
  5  )
  6  /
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> insert into t (a) values ( 1);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into t (a) values ( 2);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into t (a) values ( 3);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> drop table t;
Table dropped.

Use rpad to format a report

SQL>
SQL> CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
  2                    ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
  3                    JOB VARCHAR2(9),
  4                    MGR NUMBER(4),
  5                    HIREDATE DATE,
  6                    SAL NUMBER(7, 2),
  7                    COMM NUMBER(7, 2),
  8                    DEPTNO NUMBER(2));
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7369, "SMITH", "CLERK",    7902, TO_DATE("17-DEC-1980", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 800, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7499, "ALLEN", "SALESMAN", 7698, TO_DATE("20-FEB-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1600, 300, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7521, "WARD",  "SALESMAN", 7698, TO_DATE("22-FEB-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1250, 500, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7566, "JONES", "MANAGER",  7839, TO_DATE("2-APR-1981",  "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2975, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7654, "MARTIN", "SALESMAN", 7698,TO_DATE("28-SEP-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1250, 1400, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7698, "BLAKE", "MANAGER", 7839,TO_DATE("1-MAY-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2850, NULL, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7782, "CLARK", "MANAGER", 7839,TO_DATE("9-JUN-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2450, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7788, "SCOTT", "ANALYST", 7566,TO_DATE("09-DEC-1982", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 3000, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7839, "KING", "PRESIDENT", NULL,TO_DATE("17-NOV-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 5000, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7844, "TURNER", "SALESMAN", 7698,TO_DATE("8-SEP-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1500, 0, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7876, "ADAMS", "CLERK", 7788,TO_DATE("12-JAN-1983", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1100, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7900, "JAMES", "CLERK", 7698,TO_DATE("3-DEC-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 950, NULL, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7902, "FORD", "ANALYST", 7566,TO_DATE("3-DEC-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 3000, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7934, "MILLER", "CLERK", 7782,TO_DATE("23-JAN-1982", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1300, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> set echo on
SQL>
SQL> create or replace procedure emp_report as
  2  begin
  3      dbms_output.put_line(rpad("Empno",7)||rpad("Ename",12)||rpad("Job",11));
  4      dbms_output.put_line( rpad("-",5,"-")||rpad("  -",12,"-") ||rpad("  -",11,"-") );
  5      for x in ( select * from emp )
  6      loop
  7          dbms_output.put_line(to_char(x.empno,"9999")||"  "||rpad( x.ename, 12 ) ||rpad( x.job,11));
  8      end loop;
  9  end;
 10  /
Procedure created.
SQL>
SQL> set serveroutput on format wrapped
SQL>
SQL> exec emp_report
Empno  Ename       Job
-----  ----------  ---------
 7369  SMITH       CLERK
 7499  ALLEN       SALESMAN
 7521  WARD        SALESMAN
 7566  JONES       MANAGER
 7654  MARTIN      SALESMAN
 7698  BLAKE       MANAGER
 7782  CLARK       MANAGER
 7788  SCOTT       ANALYST
 7839  KING        PRESIDENT
 7844  TURNER      SALESMAN
 7876  ADAMS       CLERK
 7900  JAMES       CLERK
 7902  FORD        ANALYST
 7934  MILLER      CLERK
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> drop table emp;
Table dropped.
SQL>
SQL>

Use RPAD to format cursor variable

SQL> create table product(
  2     product_id number(4)     not null,
  3     product_description varchar2(20) not null
  4  );
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> insert into product values (1,"Java");
1 row created.
SQL> insert into product values (2,"Oracle");
1 row created.
SQL> insert into product values (3,"C#");
1 row created.
SQL> insert into product values (4,"Javascript");
1 row created.
SQL> insert into product values (5,"Python");
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> DECLARE
  2    TYPE rc is REF CURSOR;
  3    refCursorValue rc;
  4    myRecord product%ROWTYPE;
  5  BEGIN
  6    OPEN refCursorValue FOR SELECT * from product;
  7
  8    LOOP
  9      FETCH refCursorValue INTO myRecord;
 10      EXIT WHEN refCursorValue%NOTFOUND;
 11      dbms_output.put_line(to_char(myRecord.product_id)||" "||
 12      rpad(myRecord.product_description,20," "));
 13
 14    END LOOP;
 15
 16    CLOSE refCursorValue;
 17  END;
 18  /
1 Java
2 Oracle
3 C#
4 Javascript
5 Python
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> drop table product;
Table dropped.

Use rpad to represent the level

SQL>
SQL> CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
  2                    ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
  3                    JOB VARCHAR2(9),
  4                    MGR NUMBER(4),
  5                    HIREDATE DATE,
  6                    SAL NUMBER(7, 2),
  7                    COMM NUMBER(7, 2),
  8                    DEPTNO NUMBER(2));
Table created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7369, "SMITH", "CLERK",    7902, TO_DATE("17-DEC-1980", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 800, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7499, "ALLEN", "SALESMAN", 7698, TO_DATE("20-FEB-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1600, 300, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7521, "WARD",  "SALESMAN", 7698, TO_DATE("22-FEB-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1250, 500, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7566, "JONES", "MANAGER",  7839, TO_DATE("2-APR-1981",  "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2975, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7654, "MARTIN", "SALESMAN", 7698,TO_DATE("28-SEP-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1250, 1400, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7698, "BLAKE", "MANAGER", 7839,TO_DATE("1-MAY-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2850, NULL, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7782, "CLARK", "MANAGER", 7839,TO_DATE("9-JUN-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2450, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7788, "SCOTT", "ANALYST", 7566,TO_DATE("09-DEC-1982", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 3000, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7839, "KING", "PRESIDENT", NULL,TO_DATE("17-NOV-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 5000, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7844, "TURNER", "SALESMAN", 7698,TO_DATE("8-SEP-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1500, 0, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7876, "ADAMS", "CLERK", 7788,TO_DATE("12-JAN-1983", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1100, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7900, "JAMES", "CLERK", 7698,TO_DATE("3-DEC-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 950, NULL, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7902, "FORD", "ANALYST", 7566,TO_DATE("3-DEC-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 3000, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7934, "MILLER", "CLERK", 7782,TO_DATE("23-JAN-1982", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1300, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> select rpad("*",2*level,"*") || ename ename
  2  from emp
  3  start with mgr is null
  4  connect by prior empno = mgr
  5  /
ENAME
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**KING
****JONES
******SCOTT
********ADAMS
******FORD
********SMITH
****BLAKE
******ALLEN
******WARD
******MARTIN
******TURNER
ENAME
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
******JAMES
****CLARK
******MILLER
14 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL> drop table emp;
Table dropped.
SQL>
SQL>