first day of the year

hi
in oracle form , how i can return first day of the year for a given date
field name is : :BASIC_BLOCK.c_per
i found this function
SELECT TRUNC(to_date('17-DEC-2001'),'YEAR') "First Day" FROM Dual;
but it doesnt work when i replaced it like this
declare
begd date;
begin
SELECT to_date(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per ,'Yyyy-mm-dd') into begd  FROM Dual;
NiceMan331Asked:
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sdstuberCommented:
assuming :basic_block.c_per is a text field try this

SELECT trunc(to_date(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per ,'yyyy-mm-dd'),'yyyy') into :begd  FROM Dual;

or

:begd := trunc(to_date(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per ,'yyyy-mm-dd'),'yyyy');


if :basic_block.c_per is a date then you can simply do...


SELECT trunc(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per) into :begd  FROM Dual;

or

:begd := trunc(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per,'yyyy');

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NiceMan331Author Commented:
:basic_block.c_per is a date field and formatted as 'yyyy-mm-dd'
that one doesnt work also
sdstuberCommented:
>>> :basic_block.c_per is a date field and formatted as 'yyyy-mm-dd'

no

a date does not have a format
text has a format.

>>> that one doesnt work also

I gave 4 options, which "one"  ?

and "doesn't work" in what way?
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NiceMan331Author Commented:
i didnt see your update for the comment
this one now works
begd := trunc(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per,'yyyy');

but in the query , it required to be formatted as : yyyy-mm-dd
the form doesnt accept it
sdstuberCommented:
in the form you are typing in text, that text must have a format,  and then the form converts the text  by that format into a date.
NiceMan331Author Commented:
So , what would be the formula looks like ?
sdstuberCommented:
You have it already, since :basic_block.c_per is a date


begd := trunc(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per,'yyyy');
NiceMan331Author Commented:
begd := trunc(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per,'yyyy');
doesnt work , it sent me error < ORA-00932
this one only works :
 to_date(''' || to_char(trunc(:BASIC_BLOCK.c_per,'yyyy'),'YYYY-MM-DD') || ''',''YYYY-MM-DD'')

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i understand from you that date field doesn't required format , but it really doesn't work
, in sql it works , but in form no
NiceMan331Author Commented:
i accepted the solution as it works in sql-plus only
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