EDIT: Converting the Format of a Field

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:

EDIT also extracts characters from or add characters to an alphanumeric string. For more information, see EDIT: Extracting or Adding Characters.


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Syntax: How to Convert the Format of a Field
EDIT(fieldname);

where:

fieldname
Alphanumeric or Numeric

Is the field name.



Example: Converting From Numeric to Alphanumeric Format

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

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