CONVERT

The CONVERT script function converts the data type of a value. You can convert values specified directly or through a script variable. The function returns the value in the new data type. Assign the return code to a script 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

Parameter	Format	Description
Data type	See allowed values	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	script literal or script variable	Value whose data type you want to convert. Note: Enclose numbers in quotation marks.

Examples

The following example converts a positive integer into a string.

:DEFINE &unsigned#, unsigned

:DEFINE &string#, string

 

:SET &unsigned# = 12

:SET &string# = CONVERT(string, &unsigned#)

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

:DEFINE &unsigned#, unsigned

:DEFINE &string#, string

 

:SET &string# = "1234"

:SET &unsigned# = CONVERT(unsigned, &string#)

See also: