BIN_TO_NUM

Syntax

Description of the illustration bin_to_num.gif

Purpose

BIN_TO_NUM converts a bit vector to its equivalent number. Each argument to this function represents a bit in the bit vector. This function takes as arguments any numeric datatype, or any nonnumeric datatype that can be implicitly converted to NUMBER. Each expr must evaluate to 0 or 1. This function returns Oracle NUMBER.

BIN_TO_NUM is useful in data warehousing applications for selecting groups of interest from a materialized view using grouping sets.

Examples

The following example converts a binary value to a number:

SELECT BIN_TO_NUM(1,0,1,0) FROM DUAL; 

BIN_TO_NUM(1,0,1,0)
-------------------
                 10

The next example converts three values into a single binary value and uses BIN_TO_NUM to convert that binary into a number. The example uses a PL/SQL declaration to specify the original values. These would normally be derived from actual data sources.

SELECT order_status FROM orders WHERE order_id = 2441;

ORDER_STATUS
------------
           5
DECLARE
  warehouse NUMBER := 1;
  ground    NUMBER := 1;
  insured   NUMBER := 1;
  result    NUMBER;
BEGIN
  SELECT BIN_TO_NUM(warehouse, ground, insured) INTO result FROM DUAL;
  UPDATE orders SET order_status = result WHERE order_id = 2441;
end;
/
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SELECT order_status FROM orders WHERE order_id = 2441;

ORDER_STATUS
------------
           7

Refer to the examples for BITAND for information on reversing this process, extracting multiple values from a single column value.