CONVERT

Use the CONVERT script function to convert the data type of a value. The script function lets you convert values that have been specified directly, or through a script variable. The script function returns the value with the converted data type. Assign the return code of the script function to a variable to use the converted value.

Important! Ensure that the data types match, as mismatches can cause errors:

• The data type of the value you want to convert must match the data type of the target variable.
• The data type you specify in the script function must match the data type of the target variable.

Notes:

• You can only convert a string to a number if the string consists of a number in a format that is valid for the target variable.
• When you convert a higher number type to a lower one, decimal numbers are rounded, and signs are removed.
• You cannot convert negative numbers with this script function.

Syntax

CONVERT (Data type, value)

Parameters

• CONVERT
  Converts the data type of a value

• Data type
  Data type to which you want to convert the value
  Allowed values:

  • unsigned
    positive integers without signs
  • signed
    integers with signs
  • float
    floating-point number
  • string
    string, text
  Note: Specify the data type without quotation marks.

• value
  Value whose data type you want to convert
  Format: script literal or script variable
  Note: Enclose numbers in quotation marks.

Example

The following script converts a positive integer into a string.

:define &unsigned#, unsigned
:define &string#, string

:set &unsigned# = 12
:set &string# = CONVERT(string, &unsigned#)

The following script converts a string to a number. This conversion is possible because the string in the example consists of a number in a format that is valid for the target data type.

:define &unsigned#, unsigned
:define &string#, string

:set &string# = "1234"
:set &unsigned# = CONVERT(unsigned,&string#)

See also: