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null dates- how to convert to other string

WestDraytonMar 3 2010 — edited Mar 3 2010

What is the best way to convert empty value of DATE datatype to string "empty date".

I do at the moment so:

with t
as
(
select current_date d from dual
union 
select null from dual)
select t.d, nvl(to_char(t.d),'empty date') a/*, nvl(t.d,'empty date') b*/ from t;


--
03.03.2010	03.03.2010
(null)	                empty date

If i tried to display commented column b there, but i got error:
"ORA-01858: a non-numeric character was found where a numeric was expected"

So, is the best way to display for null dates other string like "empty date" the way i do in column "a"?
Or is there better way?

This post has been answered by Frank Kulash on Mar 3 2010

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Added on Mar 3 2010

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