Insert Spaces Into a Character String: Quick Tip

In many SQL relational database you will have to use the RPAD function to insert spaces into a character string. That also works in Vertica. However, for a more robust solution, Vertica provides the built-in function SPACE which returns the specified number of blank spaces.

Example:

dbadmin=> SELECT 'ABC' || RPAD(' ', 10, ' ') || 'DEF' "Insert 10 spaces!";
Insert 10 spaces!
-------------------
ABC DEF
(1 row)

dbadmin=> SELECT ‘ABC’ || SPACE(10) || ‘DEF’ “Insert 10 spaces!”;
Insert 10 spaces!
——————-
ABC DEF
(1 row)

dbadmin=> SELECT ‘My girlfriend broke up with me because she said she needed ‘ || SPACE(10) || ‘!?!?’ AS “?”;
?
—————————————————————————
My girlfriend broke up with me because she said she needed !?!?
(1 row)

Have fun!