I have a table that has a column that is a data type of "LONG". The
data in this column is actually text (it's descriptions). Don't know
they history of why it was set up this way, but I cannot change it.
So, I am trying to use SQL to pull this column along with other
columns in the table. In my where clause I need to use the column in
question (which is called "service_description", for example) to
limit
the data I am pulling back. However, SQL does not allow me to use the
CAST or CONVERT or SUBSTR functions to convert the data in the field.
I get the error ORA-00997: illegal use of LONG datatype  or
ORA-00932:
inconsistent datatypes: expected NUMBER got LONG or some other ORACLE
error.
Is there some way to do this? I cannot change the data type of the
column, so I have to convert the data in the sql in order to use it
in
my where clause.
Thanks.

select *
from table_definitions
where service_description = 'TBD';