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Q88985: Converting a Numeric Value to a String

Article: Q88985
Product(s): Microsoft Fox Miscellaneous Products
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.21,2.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 23-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft FoxBASE+ for MS-DOS, versions 1.21, 2.1 
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SUMMARY
=======

When FoxBASE+ converts a numeric value to a string, the numeric is automatically
left padded to a length of 10 characters.

For example, if a program contains the following code

     x = 455
     ? STR(x), LTRIM(STR(x))

it returns the following values: " 455", "455".

To string numeric values with decimals, include the length of the entire number
and the number of decimal places desired to display. The following are examples
of using the STR() function with numbers that include decimals:

     x = 234.98
     ? STR(x,10,2), LTRIM(STR(x,10,2))

The program returns the following values: " 234.98","234.98".

When doing string comparisons, it is important to make sure the values being
compared are in the same format. If the above values are compared, they will not
be equal. For example:

     x=12
     ? STR(x)=LTRIM(STR(x))     && returns .F.

MORE INFORMATION
================

STR(<expN1>[,<expN2>[,<expN3>]]) - Changes a numeric value to a
                                  string

     <expN1> - Numeric expression to convert to a character
     <expN2> - Length of the string to return (optional)
     <expN3> - Number of decimal places to use (optional)
LTRIM(<expC>) - Removes all spaces from the left side of a string

  <expC> - Character expression

Additional query words:

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxBASE210DOS kbFoxBASE121DOS kbFoxBASESearch
Version           : MS-DOS:1.21,2.1

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