RE: Converting alpha to numeric in Query

[Mark Allen <allenmark@xxxxxxxx>]

Found this in the archives (posted by douglas handy) searched on
microsecond
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I only know of one kludge, but it only handles character fields up to
6 digits long AND it must have leading zeros.

The trick is to use the MICROSECOND( timestamp ) function to extract
the numeric value of the last 6 bytes in a 26-byte timestamp.  The
idea is to concatenate a constant for the date/time portion with the
character field to create a timestamp, then let MICROSECOND( ) return
the numeric value of the portion you concatenated.

For example, if you have a character field containing 5 digits:

  NUM = MICROSECOND( '0001-01-01-00.00.00.0' || field )

or if you have a 3-digit character field:

  NUM = MICROSECOND( '0001-01-01-00.00.00.000' || field )

This has limited application, because you must know the number of
bytes and it must have leading zeros.  If it has leading blanks, the
timestamp expression becomes invalid and it returns 0.  If it has
trailing blanks, the blanks are treated as zeros.  EG, in the first
example above if the field contained '123  ' then NUM = 12300.

Like I said, it is a kludge with limited application.  But it does
help in a few cases.

Doug
************************************************************************
***
Mark Allen
I.S. Manager
Wilkes Telephone & Electric
A Dycom Company
Phone: (706) 678-9565
Email: allenmark@nu-z.net
http://www.nu-z.net




:-----Original Message-----
:From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
:[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com] On Behalf Of Dan Bale
:Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 3:01 PM
:To: midrange-l@midrange.com
:Subject: RE: Converting alpha to numeric in Query
:
:
:Wrong way.  That converts a numeric to alpha.  Albert wants
:the other way. AFAIK, can't be done.
:
:- Dan Bale
:(I am *NOT* "Dale"
:http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-:l/200105/msg00281.html )
:SAMSA, Inc. 989-790-0507
:DBale@SAMSA.com <mailto:DBale@SAMSA.com>
:  Quiquid latine dictum sit altum viditur.
:  (Whatever is said in Latin seems profound.)
:
:-----Original Message-----
:From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
:[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com]On Behalf :Of J Michael
:Smith
:Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 2:52 PM
:To: 'midrange-l@midrange.com'
:Subject: RE: Converting alpha to numeric in Query
:
:
:%DIGITS(VALUE)
:
:Michael Smith
:
:-----Original Message-----
:From: York, Albert [mailto:albert.york@nissan-usa.com]
:Sent: April 02, 2002 01:32 PM
:To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
:Subject: Converting alpha to numeric in Query
:
:
:Is there a way in Query to convert in alpha field to a numeric
:field. The field will always contain valid digits.
:
:Albert York
:
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