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Add a new idea Subscribe
Status Delivered
Workspace IBM i
Categories Languages - RPG
Created by Guest
Created on Oct 31, 2018

RELATED IDEAS

Merged idea
This idea has been merged into another idea. To comment or vote on this idea, please visit IBMI-I-1321 %int() and %dec()does not allow blank character string.

Enhance %Dec, %Int, and %Float to treat blank fields as zero Merged

Currently the character to numeric BIFs treat an input of blanks as an error. This is silly and causes unnecessary logic to have to be coded to test the field for blanks before attempting to convert. This means that the BIFs cannot be used within expressions and has other ramifications when using XML-INTO and DATA=INTO as noted in the Use Case.


Use Case:

An example of this in action can be seen when using XML-INTO since the compiler effectively applies these built-ins when loading the target variables.

e.g. When processing an xml document like this:
<part><id>A1234</Id><quantity>45</quantity></part>
<part><id>B2345</Id><quantity /></part>

I want to be able to code the DS as (pseudo code not tested):

dcl-ds part Qualified Dim(99);
Id char(5);
quantity int(5);
end-ds;

Instead I have to code:
dcl-ds part Qualified Dim(99);
Id char(5);
quantity char(5);
end-ds;

And then add something like:

If part(x). quantity = *blanks;
realQuantity = 0;
else;
realQuantity = %Int(part(x). quantity);
endif;

Similar code (or usage of Monitor) is required when using DATA-INTO or indeed any time that character data must be converted to numeric via the BIFs.


Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 9, 2018

    like cpytoimpf:
    ' ' --> blank
    '' --> null

    if there is an extender %int(' ':0), means cvt ' ' --> 0, then the changerequest ist ok

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 3, 2018

    Your request is a duplicate of RFE 107245 which is an "Uncommitted Candidate". Please use that RFE to cast a vote or add a comment.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 1, 2018

    I am not 100% certain whether this new "blank = zero" behavior should be the default as this could cause upwards compatibility issues with existing code and applications? Perhaps a new optional parameter can be added to these BIFs to indicate when this new behavior is desired?

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 1, 2018

    This is a duplicate.

    Se this "%int() and %dec()does not allow blank character string":
    http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=107245

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Oct 31, 2018

    There have been suggestions that these BIFs be allowed to supply another default when the string is blanks. I feel this is necessary and possibly needed for data columns that are null capable in the database; allow a default of null when being used to populate a null capable column.

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