[DERBY-5602] Add support for a SQL REPEAT(string, count) function

• Type: Improvement
• Status: Open
• Priority: Minor
• Resolution: Unresolved
• Affects Version/s: 10.8.2.2
• Component/s: SQL
• Labels: derby_triage10_10 function sql string
• Urgency: Normal
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Lukas Eder
• Created: 04/Feb/12 13:24
• Updated: 28/Sep/12 07:33

Description

A similar function was discussed with Rick Hillegas in this ticket:
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/DERBY-5597

Apparently, JDBC mentions a REPLACE function in its appendix:

> Compare the JDBC escape function (from Appendix D2 of the 4.1 JDBC spec):
> "REPLACE(string1, string2, string3) Replaces all occurrences of string2 in string1 with string3"

It also mentions a REPEAT function

"REPEAT(string, count) A character string formed by repeating string count times"

This REPEAT function would be a nice-to-have enhancement to simulate padding directly in the database, where this may be needed. Most databases ship with some form of REPEAT:

• RPAD(string, LENGTH(string) * count) in Oracle, Ingres
• REPLICATE(string, count) in Sybase ASE, SQL Server
• REPEAT(string, count) in DB2, H2, HSQLDB, MySQL, Postgres, Sybase SQL Anywhere