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 mat
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.
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)