
TO_NCHAR (character) converts a character string, CHAR, VARCHAR2, CLOB, or NCLOB value to the national character set. The value returned is always NVARCHAR2. This function is equivalent to the TRANSLATE ... USING function with a USING clause in the national character set.
The following example converts VARCHAR2 data from the oe.customers table to the national character set:
SELECT TO_NCHAR(cust_last_name) FROM customers WHERE customer_id=103; TO_NCHAR(CUST_LAST_NAME) -------------------------------------------------- Taylor