Re: Using SQL to convert an alpha field to numeric

Get this concept: Modular code.
Someone, somewhere, has to have a function to already do this.
Other things to think of:
What happens if the data has invalid data, like alphanumeric characters?
For "bad data" what do you want returned? I'm a big fan of nulls. Some
may prefer zeros. Some may prefer a special value which sticks out, like
all nines. In my case I would return nulls and then you could do your own
IFNULL to convert that to your desired value.
select a.F8, ifnull(ConvertToNumber(a.F8), 0) from a;

I know NOTHING about this stuff, but I threw one together as a learning
experience.

create function rob.ConvertToNumber
(InputCharacter varchar(20))
returns decimal(15, 2)
language sql
deterministic
returns null on null input
Begin
Declare StrippedClean varchar (20);
Declare ReturnDecimal decimal(15, 2);
Declare InvalidDecimal CONDITION FOR '22018';
Declare EXIT HANDLER FOR InvalidDecimal
return null;
set StrippedClean = replace(trim(InputCharacter), ',', '');
set ReturnDecimal = decimal(StrippedClean, 15, 2);
return ReturnDecimal;
end;

Now, here is some sampling:
values replace('123,456.78', ',', ''); strip out comma and replace with
null
values decimal('123.45', 15, 2);
values decimal('12x.45', 15, 2); should throw an error
values rob.ConvertToNumber('123.45');
values rob.ConvertToNumber('12x.45'); returns a null instead of throwing
an error
values rob.ConvertToNumber('123,456.78'); returns 123456.78 as a decimal.

So now you should be able to do
select a.F8, rob.ConvertToNumber(a.F8) from a;

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg248326.pdf

Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





From: Alan Shore <ashore@xxxxxxxx>
To: "midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 03/08/2018 11:33 AM
Subject: Using SQL to convert an alpha field to numeric
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>



Hi everyone
We are on V7r1

I have received a file to be used in reconciling against our orders
One of the fields (F8) is the order amount, but it is in an alpha field,
left justified
For example
2,239.72
60.61
53.41
626.92

If I try and use the following
decimal(a.F8, 7, 2)
This works fine - except for the amount 2,239.72
So I came up with the following

case when length(trim(a.F8)) > 7 then
decimal(substr(trim(a.F8), 1, (length(trim(a.F8)) - 7)) concat
substr(trim(a.F8), (length(trim(a.F8)) - 5), 6), 7, 2) else
decimal(a.F8, 7, 2)
end


This will work - unless I get amount into the millions - in which case I
have to expand my case

Now - here is my question

Is there a "simpler" way to do this conversion
I was somewhat surprised that
decimal(a.F8, 7, 2)
didn't handle the comma - or am I not seeing something?


Alan Shore
E-mail : ASHORE@xxxxxxxx
Phone [O] : (631) 200-5019
Phone [C] : (631) 880-8640
'If you're going through hell, keep going.'
Winston Churchill

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