converting Date to Date or Char

[nikos]

Hi,
I have a table with one of the columns configured to record dates as ('#', 'MM/DD/YYYY'). However, two entries in that column are of format YYYY and MM/YYYY. How can I change only those two entries preferably to Date but in formats above?
i tried to do:
[code=oracle]

"update table_name
set column_name = to_date('2008', 'YYYY')
where c_id = 12"
[/code]

but it records the date in format MM/DD/YYYY with values 03/01/2008 (i dont know how it selects this specific date).
If it is not possible to change the date format of the column without affecting the whole column, how can I change my two specific formats to strings?
Thank you for help.

[debasisdas]

How is it possible that only 2 values are stored in different format ?

[amitpatel66]

You mean you want to update the two records to the formats of YYYY and MM/YYYY respectively?

[nikos]

How is it possible that only 2 values are stored in different format ?

The original table is from excel, so in excel there were those dates (year, and month and year) to indicate a start of event.

[nikos]

You mean you want to update the two records to the formats of YYYY and MM/YYYY respectively?

yeah, i basically need to select the year of 2003 and insert it into DATE configured column as 2003 without month or day. Another possibility would be to insert it as a string, but i would need to convert those two entries only (ie, YYYY and MM/YYYY)