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Receiving error message: Error converting data type nvarchar to float.

I have a .NET application (SQL Server backend). I am using a SQL statement to retrieve data and then display it on my web page.

I'm working with a field that is nvarchar. I need to be able to display an N/A when there is no data for that particular field. Here's the portion of the SQL Statement that I have so far:

ISNULL(pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours, N'N/A') as SEHours

When I run it, I'm receiving the error: Error converting data type nvarchar to float. What do I need to add to it to make it display N/A.

Thanks!

khawkins96

Asked: 2006-11-16

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ASP.NET

1 Solution

LVL 9

kraffayCommented: 2006-11-16

Can you try putting this on your SQL:

SEHours = CASE pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours
WHEN pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours ISNULL 'N/A'
ELSE pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours
END

khawkins96Author Commented: 2006-11-16

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it and I'm getting another error message that says: Incorrect syntax near 'ISNULL'

LVL 11

ethothsCommented: 2006-11-16

Basically you cannot mix datatypes in this way. If there is data it's a float, it there is not it's a string.

You'll need to catch this is the place that displays it not at the source. The exact method you choose depends on what you're doing with the data.

LVL 9

kraffayCommented: 2006-11-16

Sorry, can you try this:

SEHours = CASE pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours
WHEN ISNULL(pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours) 'N/A'
ELSE pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours
END

LVL 11

ethothsCommented: 2006-11-16

Sorry, you sid the datatype is an nvarchar, is this what you are doing?

select ISNULL(pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours, N'N/A') as SEHours from whatever

khawkins96Author Commented: 2006-11-16

kraffay,

I tried that and received a new error: The isnull function requires 2 arguments

ethoths - this is what I was working with: ISNULL(pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours, N'N/A') as SEHours

LVL 96

Bob LearnedCommented: 2006-11-16

That previous attempt was close, so try this:

SEHours = CASE pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours
WHEN pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours IS NULL 'N/A'
ELSE pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours
END

Another Transact-SQL statement that you can use is COALESCE:

COALESCE
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/tsqlref/ts_ca-co_9dph.asp

Returns the first non-null expression among its arguments.

Bob

khawkins96Author Commented: 2006-11-16

TheLearnedOne - I tried the code you listed there and I"m getting an error:

Incorrect syntax near 'IS NULL'

I haven't tried your other suggestion yet. I will do so. If you have another other suggestion regarding the code you listed and the error I"m receiving, please let me know.

Thanks!

LVL 96

Bob LearnedCommented: 2006-11-16

Man, I always forget that IS NULL can't be used in a CASE:

Here is an example of using the ISNULL function to your benefit, without the CASE:
SELECT ISNULL(userid, 'N/A') AS userid FROM profile

The 2nd argument is the replacement string if the value is null.

Bob

khawkins96Author Commented: 2006-11-16

The LearnedOne,

That's basically what I previously had:

ISNULL(pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours, N'N/A') as SEHours

I was getting an error that said it couldn't convert data type nvarchar to float. I'm working with an existing table that I didn't create and the data type for this field is nvarchar.

I need to display N/A when the field is null. That's a requirement of the user - I don't think COALESCE will work for me.

LVL 28

strickddCommented: 2006-11-16

try this:

SEHours = case pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours when null then 'N/A' else pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours end

This will not work in an order by though

LVL 96

Bob LearnedCommented: 2006-11-16

Aaah, I get it, pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours is a float, and you are trying to get a nvarchar value N'N/A'.

Do you need the float values on the front end, or could you cast to nvarchar?

Bob

khawkins96Author Commented: 2006-11-16

strickdd - that brought me a lot closer to the solution! I didn't receive an error message this time and my record came up on my web page, but the field that was null was empty. It should have had N/A in it. Any ideas?

The LearnedOne - the field is nvarchar in the table. I'm trying to get it to display N/A but it says it can't convert nvarchar to float. Not sure what that message means since I didn't have a convert statement in my sql statement.

LVL 21

Dale BurrellDirectorCommented: 2006-11-16

Are you absolutely sure that pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours is an nvarchar? The fact that you are storing a number (i.e. number of hours) makes that unlikely. And if it is that piece of SQL that is causing the problem then it certainly points towards pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours being a float because the isnull function will always return the type of the first parameter which means that the second parameter must be convertable to the datatype of the first parameter so that it can return the same type in all cases.

Personally, assuming that is the case, I'd return the null because then in the code you can a) format your number into a string as you desire and b) replace the null with 'N/A' thereby leaving the formating to the correct layer of code.

Otherwise if this is being used directly and you need the returned recordset to be as it will display then convert the pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours into a varchar first and e.g.

isnull(convert(nvarchar, pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours), 'N/A')

And if nothing else trying this convert will determine whether the problem lies here or elsewhere.

LVL 96

Bob LearnedCommented: 2006-11-17

I am starting to question where the problem really is. We are looking very closely at a specific piece of an SQL statement, but what is telling you that it is the one causing the problems. The syntax and the error don't match.

Bob

khawkins96Author Commented: 2006-11-17

Dale,

It worked! isnull(convert(nvarchar, pmoApps.dbo.ss_PDMMAST.acthours), 'N/A')

Thank you so much!

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