Error converting data type varchar to float

Question

Error converting data type varchar to float

sqlnaive

SSCoach

Points: 17437
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September 11, 2012 at 6:53 am

#104170

I've a table with one column as varchar(50). This table is hugely populated. I want to alter this column to datatype float. While altering it gives me the following error:
Error converting data type varchar to float.
Kindly let me know what can be done as quick fix ?

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ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 1

sqlnaive (9/11/2012)
I've a table with one column as varchar(50). This table is hugely populated. I want to alter this column to datatype float. While altering it gives me the following error:
Error converting data type varchar to float.
Kindly let me know what can be done as quick fix ?

Can you post a sample of the data? You will have to find the rows which contain data which cannot be implicitly converted to float and deal with them.

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Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 2

You are going to have to identify the data that won't convert.

Modify as needed and run this:

select

*

from

dbo.YourTable

where

ColumnToConvert like '%[^0-9]%';

sqlnaive SSCoach Points: 17437 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks both Chris and Lynn. I was checking and found that there were few records having populated as 'NULL' string. Thats why it was causing issue. Rectified it and now all is fine. Thanks once again.