>>You could prevent that using a cast. However calling such a function wouldn't be feasible. Instead youı might do somethging like:
>>
>>

select rta_elements.*, cast(nvl(tmp.amount,0) as y) as expended ;
>>  from rta_elements ;
>>  left join ;
>>  (select  cast(val(substr(sponsor_id,5,2)) as int) as sponsor_id, sum(amount) as amount ;
>>     from tip ;
>>         inner join ledger on ledger.tip_id = tip.tip_id and source="RTA" ;
>>         group by 1) tmp ;
>>  on tmp.sponsor_id = rta_elements.elementnum ;
>>  order by elementnum
>>

Cetin
>
>Re: Functions in a select Thread #1341594 Message #1341631
>
>:)

Very nice. Luckily you know me for long enough to believe that I "copied" the code eyes closed:)
Cetin