Number data type showing up as # in SQL Plus

Question

Number data type showing up as # instead of the numbers in SQL Plus.

Please refer to the H_RATE for the issue prevously it was showing up correctly and I have searched the internet and stackoverflow for a simliar issue or answer but none have the same.

Could you help in fixing it so it shows the number instead of #?

Answer 1

# is displayed if the value can't fit in the column; from the SQL*Plus documentation:

If a value cannot fit in the column, SQL*Plus displays pound signs (#) instead of the number.

If it was displaying OK and now isn't, I think you've probably set a column format that is too small for the values you're display, something like column h_rate format 9999999999. If you have a 10-digit number that isn't enough, as it needs a character to display a +/- sign.

You can check if that is the case by clearing all column definitions, with clear columns.