Setting NLS Parameters
NLS (National Language Support) parameters determine the locale-specific behavior on both the client and the server. NLS parameters can be specified in the following ways:
-
As initialization parameters on the server
You can include parameters in the initialization parameter file to specify a default session NLS environment. These settings have no effect on the client side; they control only the server's behavior. For example:
NLS_TERRITORY = "CZECH REPUBLIC"
-
As environment variables on the client
You can use NLS environment variables, which may be platform-dependent, to specify locale-dependent behavior for the client and also to override the default values set for the session in the initialization parameter file. For example, on a UNIX system:
% setenv NLS_SORT FRENCH
-
With the
ALTER SESSION
statementYou can use NLS parameters that are set in an
ALTER
SESSION
statement to override the default values that are set for the session in the initialization parameter file or set by the client with environment variables.ALTER SESSION SET NLS_SORT = FRENCH;
-
In SQL functions
You can use NLS parameters explicitly to hardcode NLS behavior within a SQL function. This practice overrides the default values that are set for the session in the initialization parameter file, set for the client with environment variables, or set for the session by the
ALTER
SESSION
statement. For example:TO_CHAR(hiredate, 'DD/MON/YYYY', 'nls_date_language = FRENCH')
See Also:
Oracle Database SQL Reference for more information about SQL functions, including theTO_CHAR
function
Table 3-1 shows the precedence order of the different methods of setting NLS parameters. Higher priority settings override lower priority settings. For example, a default value has the lowest priority and can be overridden by any other method.
Table 3-1 Methods of Setting NLS Parameters and Their Priorities
Priority | Method |
---|---|
1 (highest) | Explicitly set in SQL functions |
2 | Set by an |
3 | Set as an environment variable |
4 | Specified in the initialization parameter file |
5 | Default |