How to: |
The EDIT function converts an alphanumeric field that contains numeric characters to numeric format or converts a numeric field to alphanumeric format.
This function is usefule for manipulating a field in an expression that performs an operation that requires operands in a particular format.
When EDIT assigns a converted value to a new field, the format of the new field must correspond to the format of the returned value. For example, if EDIT converts a numeric field to alphanumeric format, you must give the new field an alphanumeric format:
DEFINE ALPHAPRICE/A6 = EDIT(PRICE);
EDIT deals with a symbol in the following way:
Any other non-numeric characters are invalid, and EDIT returns the value zero.
EDIT also extracts characters from or add characters to an alphanumeric string. For more information, see EDIT: Extracting or Adding Characters.
EDIT(fieldname);
where:
Is the field name.
EDIT converts HIRE_DATE (a legacy date format) to alphanumeric format. CHGDAT is then able to use the field, which it expects in alphanumeric format:
TABLE FILE EMPLOYEE
PRINT HIRE_DATE AND COMPUTE
ALPHA_HIRE/A17 = EDIT(HIRE_DATE); NOPRINT AND COMPUTE
HIRE_MDY/A17 = CHGDAT('YMD', 'MDYYX', ALPHA_HIRE, 'A17');
BY LAST_NAME BY FIRST_NAME
WHERE DEPARTMENT EQ 'MIS';
END
The output is:
LAST_NAME FIRST_NAME HIRE_DATE HIRE_MDY --------- ---------- --------- -------- BLACKWOOD ROSEMARIE 82/04/01 APRIL 01 1982 CROSS BARBARA 81/11/02 NOVEMBER 02 1981 GREENSPAN MARY 82/04/01 APRIL 01 1982 JONES DIANE 82/05/01 MAY 01 1982 MCCOY JOHN 81/07/01 JULY 01 1981 SMITH MARY 81/07/01 JULY 01 1981
Information Builders |