Convert Data Type

[Michael Lanzieri]

I create a table using 'interset' operation. The field "Net" format 8.2 must be converted to a 10 character field with leading zeroes.(e.q 43.21 must be stored as '0000004321' as decimal implied. In field rules of the table created I entered as a 'calc':
"0"+padl(ltrim(str(net,10,2)),10,"0") which evalutes correctly but when I try to save I get "equation must return a number"....

Am I in the wrong "pew"? The source table field is numeric therefore the resulting field stored must be numeric for the operation to be successful. Correct? I tried the conversion as a calc in an update operation but no luck.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Michael

[French]

RE: Convert Data Type

If I understand what you want to do...

It seems to me that what you need to do is create a character field in your result table of sufficient width to hold the string you wish to create and use your formula to put the result you want in that character field.

[Steve Workings]

RE: Convert Data Type

Are you trying to convert data in a numeric field into character data, but using the same numeric field as the depository for the character data?

What you'll need to do is create a new field of character type, and then fill it with the character information derived from the numeric field. The update operation is a good way to help do this.

- Steve

[Michael Lanzieri]

RE: Convert Data Type

Paul;

Yes. In part I have a numeric field(8.2) calculated and need to convert to a character field(length of 10) replacing leading spaces with zero such that the result would be '0000004321' which is 43.21 in the numeric data field. I attempted to do this in 'update' operation but I get 'arguement wrong type...' message. Yes. I'm "wimping" out on this one. Per chance, the displayed decimal is actually stored in the data base table??

Thanks,

[Michael Lanzieri]

RE: Convert Data Type

Steve;

Thanks. Yes, I was attemtping originally to store as you observed, but now I have a character(10 pos) field in which I want to 'convert' the numeric( 43.21) to 0000004321.

Any help would be appreciated as always.

Thanks

Michael

[Stan Mathews]

RE: Convert Data Type

If all the values are like your example, 43.21. and round nembers are stored as, for example, 43.00, then you need to convert them to character with

newvalue=str(value*100,10,0) which would give you
" 4321) for the 43.21 and " 4300" for the 43.00. Then you need to pad the character value with zeroes.

PADL( CharacterString, Length, PadString) here would be

padl(alltrim(newvalue),10,"0").

The "one step" expression would then be

padl(alltrim(str(value*100,10,0)),10,"0").

This could probably be done with a transform() function as well.

[Michael Lanzieri]

RE: Convert Data Type

Stan;

Thanks for the reply and insite into the various code steps. I had used in the 'combined' expression the 'ltrim' and '/' after my numeric field name as you probably saw.

My next step is to qualify what is being stored in the character field based on a tran code. If the trancode is a 23 or 33 then I need to 'zero' the character field and then transform to all zeros. Is this como possible in field rules or do I have to move the transform() to another event(i.e. update?

Thanks Again.

Michael

[Stan Mathews]

RE: Convert Data Type

I think the expression could be adap[ted in the field rules to:

if(value=23 .or.value = 33,"0000000000",padl(alltrim(str(value*100,10,0)),10,"0"))

[Michael Lanzieri]

RE: Convert Data Type

Stan;

Thanks again for your help. That should work once it is integrated.

Michael