Re: 3/4 to .75

From: Marc <E.Mail_at_address.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 07:42:35 +0100
Message-ID: <8958ef$5gd$1_at_vkhdsu24.hda.hydro.com>

Oracle has its built-in parser. You can use DBMS_SQL to convert your expression to a number (following example not tested):

FUNCTION parse_expression(p_expression IN VARCHAR2) RETURN NUMBER IS

  l_crs PLS_INTEGER;
  l_dummy PLS_INTEGER:
  l_number NUMBER;

BEGIN
  l_crs := dbms_sql.open_cursor;

  BEGIN
    dbms_sql.parse(l_crs, 'BEGIN :value := ' || p_expression || ' END;', dbms_sql.V7);

    dbms_sql.bind_variable(l_crs, 'value', l_number);     l_dummy := dbms_sql.execute(l_crs);
    dbms_sql.variable_value(l_crs, 'value', l_number);    dbms_sql.close_cursor(l_crs);
  EXCEPTION
    WHEN OTHERS THEN -- e.g. division by zero, value error, not a number, ...

• don't forget to close the cursor dbms_sql.close_cursor(l_crs);
  • and return the error message to the calling application RAISE; END;

  RETURN l_number;
END; Marc

Jeff Smelser wrote in message ...
>I am trying to convert 3/4 to .75.. Its harder than it seems, or at least
>for me! :)
>
>When I do select to_number(3/4) from dual, it works. Add ' ' around the
>3/4 and no go. Problem is, I am receiinge all these fractions as
>characters, and can't find a way to convert it to number as decimal..
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Jeff
>
>
Received on Fri Feb 25 2000 - 07:42:35 CET