How do I change the data type of a formula field

[willz99ta]

Hi,

I am trying to change the data type of a formula field from number to string. I am using Crystal 11.

The reason I am trying to do this is because it won't let me create a variable that ends with a string without it.

The error is "a number is required here" when I try to save the formula field.

Thanks [again if it is lbass],
Will

 

[tsouth4]

create a formula: totext({your field}) and use this in your formula.

 

[willz99ta]

Nope that doesn't fix it -- I still get the same error.

My formula field (now) is:

if Month 9{REQLINE.CREATION_DATE})=10 then
{REQLINE.REQ_NUMBER} else
totext({@null})

BTW: The variable null is blank. I am doing this to get a distinct count of REQLINE.REQ_NUMBER for October.

The error is still: "a number is required here" when I try to save the formula field. It highlights totext({@null})

I need to change the data type of the entire formula field somehow (so it does not expect a number at the end).


Thanks again,
Will

 

[willz99ta]

I fixed the problem by changing my formula to:


if Month ({REQLINE.CREATION_DATE})=10 then
cstr({REQLINE.REQ_NUMBER}) else
{@null}

The cstr function converted the field to a string type. Maybe this was what tsouth was suggesting earlier with the totext function.

Will

 

[lbass]

You could have used:

if Month ({REQLINE.CREATION_DATE})=10 then
{REQLINE.REQ_NUMBER} else
tonumber({@null})

You have to convert {@null} to the same datatype as the other field, unless it is a string.

-LB