How to use conversion type functions in oracle without using <select .. from> clause

Question

I want to use <to_date> function on a string (which doesn't require any data from any table) in oracle without using <select .. from> clause

I want to show the string '01011912' into to the date 01/01/1912 as follows : to_date('01011912', 'DDMMYYYY'), but the it requires select and from keywords :(

Answer 1

If you are using SQL then to use a query you need to use a SELECT statement:

SELECT TO_DATE('01011912', 'DDMMYYYY') FROM DUAL

From Oracle 23, you can omit FROM DUAL and just use:

SELECT TO_DATE('01011912', 'DDMMYYYY')

But you still MUST use the SELECT keyword (as that is just how the SQL syntax works, in all SQL dialects not just Oracle).

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If are using PL/SQL (Oracle's procedural language extension) then you can use:

BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(TO_DATE('01011912', 'DDMMYYYY'));
END;
/

Which does not require either SELECT or FROM but does require BEGIN and END to start and end the PL/SQL block.