Trouble converting varchar to float

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Trouble converting varchar to float

Author

Topic

KidSQL
Yak Posting Veteran

88 Posts

Posted - 2005-04-07 : 09:06:04

Hello,

I am having trouble converting a varchar column of length 255 into a float datatype. I am using alter table to add a new column of type float and I'm then selecting the contents of the old varchar column into it, using convert in the process like so:

alter table mytable
add newcolumn float null

update mytable
set newcolumn = convert(float, oldcolumn)

But I get the following error message:

Server: Msg 8114, Level 16, State 5, Line 1
Error converting data type varchar to float.

Does anyone have any ideas what I may be doing wrong here? Many thanks in advance for any help.

madhivanan
Premature Yak Congratulator

22864 Posts

Posted - 2005-04-07 : 09:32:21

Make sure that oldcolumn does not have any non numeric charaters

Madhivanan

Failing to plan is Planning to fail

TG
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

6065 Posts

Posted - 2005-04-07 : 09:33:02

You've got data in your oldColumn that can't convert. see which they are with:

Select oldColumn from myTable where isNumeric(oldColumn) = 0

Be One with the Optimizer
TG

KidSQL
Yak Posting Veteran

88 Posts

Posted - 2005-04-07 : 09:33:22

Just checked, that was it. Can't believe that eluded me. Thanks!

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