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 data type, or any nonnumeric data type 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.