ColdFusion Update Number Type Field in Access

DJPr0
DJPr0 used Ask the Experts™
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My website accepts number values and I receive an error if no value is inputted. (only works when a value is present)

Problem:
I would like to delete this value if needed without receiving this error:
Data type mismatch in criteria expression

My Access database has a number type field and using cf_sql_varchar in my update statement.
I've tried using other cf_sql types: number, integer, etc without success.

Would the solution be to insert a default value of 0 if no data is present or to change the cf_sql statement that would accept a null value for the number type field in Access?
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jdthedj

Commented:
You could use the IsNumeric function to check the value before adding to your database.  It is not a CF_SQL_VARCHAR which is for text.  I assume you are using <CFQUERYPARAM>  If you are (and you should be) you don't specify any CFSQLTYPE
DJPr0

Author

Commented:
You could use the IsNumeric function to check the value before adding to your database.

How will this help to delete the value?

I want to update the field to null or 0.
jdthedj

Commented:
Try this

<CFFUNCTION NAME="NullVal" RETURNTYPE="Numeric">
  <CFARGUMENT NAME="Amt" DATATYPE="String" REQUIRED="True">
  <CFIF IsNumeric(Amt)>
    <CFRETURN Amt>
  <CFELSE>
    <CFRETURN 0>
  </CFIF>
</CFFUNCTION>

The function will change any null to a zero
Most Valuable Expert 2015
Commented:
I want to update the field to null or 0.

EDIT To set the value to 0, use the val() function.  It automatically converts non-numeric values like an empty string to  0.  (I'm assuming your column type is INTEGER. Change if needed ...)

              UPDATE TableName
              SET  NumColumn = <cfqueryparam value="#val(form.yourVariable)#" cfsqltype="cf_sql_integer">
              WHERE ID = ....

To set the value to null, use the NULL attribute

              UPDATE TableName
              SET       NumColumn = <cfqueryparam value="#form.yourVariable#"
                                                      cfsqltype="cf_sql_integer"
                                                      null="#not IsNumeric(form.yourVariable)#" >
              WHERE ID = ....


Would the solution be to insert a default value of 0 if no data is present or to change the cf_sql statement that would accept a null value for the number type field in Access?

All depends on your needs.  Sometimes 0 is better, other times null is.  When I want to indicate something has no value, like for a date field, I prefer NULL instead of entering a bogus date like 12/31/1899. For numbers it can go either way.
DJPr0

Author

Commented:
Worked perfectly, thanks _agx_!

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