Re: FM format modifier does not remove leading zero from year

Guy Rouillier <guyr-ml1(at)burntmail(dot)com> writes:
> Oracle states clearly in the SQL Reference manual:

> "A modifier can appear in a format model more than once. In such a case,
> each subsequent occurrence toggles the effects of the modifier."

*Toggles* the effect of the modifier? Egad, what drunken idiot chose
that specification?

That's certainly not how PG is interpreting the FM modifier --- we
suppose it applies to just the specifier it's attached to. Still,
we generally assume that Oracle is the authoritative reference for
how to_char() ought to behave, so maybe we should hold our noses
and change it. Problem is that this would inevitably break
practically every existing use of to_date with FM :-( (not to mention
the other modifiers, which I suppose behave that way too?)

Anyway, your example clearly shows that FM ought to strip leading
zeroes in YY, so that change ought to get made.

regards, tom lane