A question about the Decimal data type

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A question about the Decimal data type

meichner

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August 1, 2008 at 6:33 am

#122623

I am confused about something when it comes to the decimal data type. Is the decimal point considered part of the precision? In other words how is 12345.67 defined? I have been told as decimal(8,3), decimal(8,2), decimal(7,3) and decimal(7,2).
My guess would be decimal(8,2). I was hoping that I could get this cleared up once an for all.
Thanks

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RyanRandall SSChampion Points: 13623 More actions · Answer 1

meichner (8/1/2008)
I am confused about something when it comes to the decimal data type. Is the decimal point considered part of the precision? In other words how is 12345.67 defined? I have been told as decimal(8,3), decimal(8,2), decimal(7,3) and decimal(7,2).
My guess would be decimal(8,2). I was hoping that I could get this cleared up once an for all.
Thanks

BOL (Books Online) is your friend...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa258832(SQL.80).aspx

So: 12345.67 is decimal(7,2) 🙂

Ryan Randall

Solutions are easy. Understanding the problem, now, that's the hard part.

RyanRandall SSChampion Points: 13623 More actions · Answer 2

Or rather - that's the minimum decimal size which could hold it.

Ryan Randall

Solutions are easy. Understanding the problem, now, that's the hard part.

meichner SSCertifiable Points: 5563 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks for the information and the link. I had an instructor which told us that the decimal point was part of the precision and another instructor who said it wasn't. I checked the net and was unable to find a definitive answer.

Thanks again.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 4

Simple test proves it...

SELECT 1, CAST(1.23 AS DECIMAL(5,2))

SELECT 2, CAST(12.34 AS DECIMAL(5,2))

SELECT 3, CAST(123.45 AS DECIMAL(5,2))

SELECT 4, CAST(1234.56 AS DECIMAL(5,2))

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

meichner SSCertifiable Points: 5563 More actions · Answer 5

meichner

SSCertifiable

Points: 5563

August 4, 2008 at 10:44 am

#852789

Thanks. I appreciate the help.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 6

You bet. Thank you for the feedback.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)