I have a field value productlength of 0.123. This is from a view and has a data type of varchar.
I need to convert it to a float or numeric value so as o perform math comparisons.
convert(float,productlength) and cast(productlength as float) both do not work.
error varchar cant be converted to float or somethiing liek that.
From what I have read varchar can simply not be converted to a numeric string?
Any clever ways around this?
You can convert varchars to floats, and you can do it in the manner you have expressed. Your varchar must not be a numeric value. There must be something else in it. You can use IsNumeric to test it. See this:
declare @thing varchar(100) select @thing = '122.332' --This returns 1 since it is numeric. select isnumeric(@thing) --This converts just fine. select convert(float,@thing) select @thing = '122.332.' --This returns 0 since it is not numeric. select isnumeric(@thing) --This convert throws. select convert(float,@thing) Use
Try_convert(float,[Value]) See https://raresql.com/2013/04/26/sql-server-how-to-convert-varchar-to-float/
DECLARE @INPUT VARCHAR(5) = '0.12',@INPUT_1 VARCHAR(5)='0.12x'; select CONVERT(float, @INPUT) YOUR_QUERY , case when isnumeric(@INPUT_1)=1 THEN CONVERT(float, @INPUT_1) ELSE 0 END AS YOUR_QUERY_ANSWERED above will return values
however below query wont work
DECLARE @INPUT VARCHAR(5) = '0.12',@INPUT_1 VARCHAR(5)='0.12x'; select CONVERT(float, @INPUT) YOUR_QUERY , case when isnumeric(@INPUT_1)=1 THEN CONVERT(float, @INPUT_1) ELSE **@INPUT_1** END AS YOUR_QUERY_ANSWERED as @INPUT_1 actually has varchar in it.
So your output column must have a varchar in it.