/***************************************
* FUNCTION f_padLeft
*
* fornisce una stringa della lunghezza desiderata aggiungendo a sx il carattere richiesto alla @string originale
*
* Steamware, S.E.L.
* mod: 2010.03.19
*
****************************************/
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[f_padLeft] (@string VARCHAR(255), @desired_length INTEGER, @pad_character CHAR(1))
RETURNS VARCHAR(255) AS  
BEGIN

 -- Prefix the required number of spaces to bulk up the string and then replace the spaces with the desired character
 RETURN CASE
          WHEN LEN(@string) < @desired_length
            THEN REPLACE(SPACE(@desired_length - LEN(@string)), ' ', @pad_character) + @string
          ELSE @string
        END

END

GO;