Split string function in Oracle

Here's a function to split the string on any delimiter
it's a slight variation from Tom Kyte's function found on askTom



CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION str2tbl(p_string IN VARCHAR2, p_delimiter IN VARCHAR2 := ',')
    RETURN vcarray PIPELINED
AS
    v_length   NUMBER := LENGTH(p_string);
    v_start    NUMBER := 1;
    v_index    NUMBER;
BEGIN
    WHILE(v_start <= v_length)
    LOOP
        v_index    := INSTR(p_string, p_delimiter, v_start);

        IF v_index = 0
        THEN
            PIPE ROW(SUBSTR(p_string, v_start));
            v_start    := v_length + 1;
        ELSE
            PIPE ROW(SUBSTR(p_string, v_start, v_index - v_start));
            v_start    := v_index + 1;
        END IF;
    END LOOP;

    RETURN;
END str2tbl;


select * from table(str2tbl('one/two/three/four','/'))



as for converting from one to 1, two to 2,  you'll have to write your own number translator

to sdstuber:
yes, I saw that example when I googled for it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me. Thanks though:)
Regarding converting, I don't need it, it was a typo, sorry.

doesn't work?  what does it not do?

if you won't want the data returned in rows, what are you trying to do?

sdstuber,
it's a school project and we haven't covered pipeline so i can't use it. Besides, it gives me error messages. Thanks anyway:)

I am going to go with the query. Thanks sujith80!