Problem with to_number in update

From: Luke Airig <luke_airig_at_hotmail.com>
Date: 18 Feb 2003 10:10:15 -0800
Message-ID: <a066cf23.0302181010.77d63965_at_posting.google.com>

Platform      :  SunOS ngserver 5.8 Generic_108528-14 sun4u sparc
                 SUNW,Ultra-80

Oracle version: Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.2.0

Can anyone give me a hint as to why the update at the end of this post appears to be rounding?

TIA SQL->SET NULL § SQL->desc dosage_tbl

 Name                                      Null?    Type
 ----------------------------------------- -------- -------------
 DRUG_DOSAGE                                        VARCHAR2(8)
 DRUG_DOSAGE_NBR                                    NUMBER(38)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
SQL->select a.drug_dosage	
          , a.drug_dosage_nbr	
       from dosage_tbl  a 
          ;

DRUG_DOS DRUG_DOSAGE_NBR
-------- ---------------
.025 §
.625 §

120      §
180      §
120      §
5        §
5        §
450      §
250      §
2        §

10 rows selected.

---

SQL->select a.drug_dosage

          , to_number ( a.drug_dosage ) 
       from dosage_tbl  a 
          ;

DRUG_DOS TO_NUMBER(A.DRUG_DOSAGE)

-------- ------------------------


.025                         .025


.625                         .625


120                           120
180                           180
120                           120
5                               5
5                               5
450                           450
250                           250
2                               2

10 rows selected.

---

SQL->update dosage_tbl a

        set a.drug_dosage_nbr = to_number ( a.drug_dosage ) 
      where a.rowid = ( select rowid 
                          from dosage_tbl  b 
                         where a.rowid = b.rowid 
                      ) 
          ;

10 rows updated.

---

SQL->select a.drug_dosage 
          , a.drug_dosage_nbr 
       from dosage_tbl  a 
          ;

DRUG_DOS DRUG_DOSAGE_NBR
-------- ---------------
.025 0 <---------huh?
.625 1 <---------huh?

120                  120
180                  180
120                  120
5                      5
5                      5
450                  450
250                  250
2                      2

10 rows selected. Received on Tue Feb 18 2003 - 19:10:15 CET