R help - May 2011 - wrong argument to TO_CHAR (RODBC)?

Dear all,



I can't seem to run what seems (to me!) like a common SQL statement in
RODBC:



data <- sqlQuery(a, 'SELECT TO_CHAR (DB1.DATE, 'yyyy')
"year" FROM DB1')



In contrast,



data <- sqlQuery(a, 'SELECT TO_CHAR(DB1.DT_INICIO) "year" FROM
DB1')



works but it does not come up as I want it to (i.e., in "year"
format).



Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? I figure it has something to do with the
'.


Thank you for your help,

Nuno

ps. In case you haven't noticed already I am a newbie in everything related
to databases...