Can zoned decimal in varchar be converted to a diff format?

bmwibm · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:00 pm

How can zoned decimal data in a varchar column be converted to integer or packed decimal?

VARCHAR column = '00007100A'
desired output = 71001

When I try:
INTEGER(CHAR(SUBSTR(DATA_AREA_DS,1,9))) or
CAST(CHAR(SUBSTR(DATA_AREA_DS,1,9)) AS INTEGER)

I get:
DSNT408I SQLCODE = -420, ERROR: THE VALUE OF A STRING ARGUMENT WAS NOT
ACCEPTABLE TO THE INTEGER FUNCTION

dick scherrer · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:51 pm

Hello,

Just for sanity's sake, i suggest you change the column definiton from varchar or change the value to not include the sign. . .

Terry Heinze · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:20 am

I've seen this same type of problem crop up when someone defines a DB2 field as character and then stores dates there. Why not use DATE field type??