LPAD(x,a,y,n)

LPAD(x,a,y,n) is a string function that inserts the character string y (string literal) at the start of the character string x (string specification) as often as specified by the expression a. Only expressions that produce an alphanumeric value are permitted as string specifications. The result of the expression a must be a positive integer.

Leading and subsequent blanks in the character string x are truncated.

The optional parameter n (unsigned integer) defines the maximal total length of the character string created. n must be greater than or equal to the total LENGTH(x)+a*LENGTH(y).

LPAD(x,a,y,n)
x, a, y, n	Result of the LPAD(x,a,y,n) function
`LPAD(x,a,y)` and `x` must identify a `CHAR` or `VARCHAR` column	The maximum length of the character string is the length of the character string `x`.
`x` or `a` is a NULL value	`NULL` value
`a` is a special NULL value	Error Messages

Example Example

SELECT hno, LPAD('',TRUNC(price/10),'*',70) graph FROM room

WHERE price > 150 ORDER BY price DESC

Creating bar charts: LPAD inserts asterisks in front of the first parameter (in this case, a blank). This is done according to the number equal to price divided by 10.

LPAD(x,a,y,n)
HNO	GRAPH
`130`	`**********************************************************************`
`140`	`************************************************************`
`50`	`**************************************************`
`60`	`**************************************************`
`150`	`*********************************************`
`80`	`****************************************`
`120`	`***********************************`
`90`	`******************************`
`130`	`***************************`
`10`	`********************`
`60`	`********************`
`140`	`********************`
`150`	`*******************`
`50`	`******************`
`70`	`******************`
`130`	`****************`

End of the example.

More Information

RPAD(x,a,y,n)