RE: Sql Order by Question

Tim,

How about (assumes EBCDIC):

Select case when substr(field1,1,1)<'0' then field1 else ' ' end as Alpha,
       case when substr(field1,1,1)>='0' then cast(field1) as integer else 0
end as Numeric
 Order by 1,2

The idea is to separate the alpha fields and the numeric fields into
separate columns, then sort over both columns.

Note: this is not tested, so be prepared to correct syntax problems.

Eric DeLong
Sally Beauty Company
MIS-Sr. Programmer/Analyst
940-898-7863 or ext. 1863



-----Original Message-----
From: Hatzenbeler, Tim [mailto:thatzenbeler@clinitech.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 4:40 PM
To: 'midrange-l@midrange.com'
Subject: Sql Order by Question


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Can this be done, via an sql call?


I have a field, it's 20 char long, left justified..

It has things like:
Accounting
Education
110
1101
220
2234


The problems is sorting... Because it's not a numeric field, and there are
are no '0's infront of the number to make them the same length or right
justified, their not sorted correctly...

Is there a way in a sql statement, to check the field to test if it's
numeric, and if its, a valid number, (cast) it as an integer, and sort it
that way?

Just looking for an idea...

thanks

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