title: Asking User to input date in sql giving ORA-00932: inconsistent datatypes: expected DATE got NUMBER Error
body: <p>I am trying to input a date value from the user and then using that value in the query.</p>
  
  <pre><code> select * from  TB_MNP_GTY_TRANS_STEPS where CREATE_DATETIME&gt;=&amp;startdate
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Now when i run the sql statement in Toad and input 8/1/2012 as date data type i am getting </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>ORA-00932: inconsistent datatypes: expected DATE got NUMBER</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Can someone suggest where i am wrong.Note that CREATE_DATETIME is of Date Type.</p>