Sometimes, under certain circumstances, when you develop in SQL Server and especially when you try to convert a string data type value to a float data type value, you might get the error message: error converting data type varchar to float. As the error message describes, there is a conversion error and this is most probably due to the input parameter value you used in the conversion function.
Read more below on how you can easily resolve this problem.
Reproducing the Data Type Conversion Error
As mentioned above, the actual reason you get this error message, is that you are passing as a parameter to the CAST or CONVERT SQL Server functions, a value (varchar expression) that is invalid and cannot be converted to the desired data type.
Consider the following example:
-----------------------------------------
--Variable declaration and initialization
-----------------------------------------
DECLARE @value AS VARCHAR(50);
SET @value = '12.340.111,91';
--Perform the casting
SELECT CAST(@value AS FLOAT);
--or
--Perform the conversion
SELECT CONVERT(FLOAT, @value);
-----------------------------------------
If you execute the above code you will get an error message in the following type:
Msg 8114, Level 16, State 5, Line 6 Error converting data type varchar to float.
Another similar example where you get the same data type conversion error, is the below:
-----------------------------------------
--Variable declaration and initialization
-----------------------------------------
DECLARE @value2 AS VARCHAR(50);
SET @value2 = '12,340.15';
--Perform the casting
SELECT CAST(@value2 AS FLOAT);
--or
--Perform the conversion
SELECT CONVERT(FLOAT, @value2);
Why you get this Conversion Error
The exact reason for getting the error message in this case is that you are using the comma (,) as a decimal point and also the dots as group digit symbols. Though SQL Server considers as a decimal point the dot (.). Also when converting a varchar to float you must not use any digit grouping symbols.
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In order for the above code to execute, you would need to first remove the dots (that is the digit grouping symbols in this case) and then replace the comma with a dot thus properly defining the decimal symbol for the varchar expression.
Note: You need to be careful at this point, in order to correctly specify the decimal symbol at the correct position of the number.
Therefore, you can modify the code of example 1 as per below example:
-------------------------------------------
--Variable declaration and initialization
-------------------------------------------
DECLARE @value AS VARCHAR(50);
SET @value = '12.340.111,91';
--Prepare the string for casting/conversion to float
SET @value = REPLACE(@value, '.', '');
SET @value = REPLACE(@value, ',', '.');
--Perform the casting
SELECT CAST(@value AS FLOAT);
--or
--Perform the conversion
SELECT CONVERT(FLOAT, @value);
-----------------------------------------
If you execute the above code you will be able to get the string successfully converted to float.
Similarly, you can modify the code of example 2 as per below example:
-----------------------------------------
--Variable declaration and initialization
-----------------------------------------
DECLARE @value2 AS VARCHAR(50);
SET @value2 = '12,340.15';
--Prepare the string for casting/conversion to float
SET @value2 = REPLACE(@value2, ',', '');
--Perform the casting
SELECT CAST(@value2 AS FLOAT);
--or
--Perform the conversion
SELECT CONVERT(FLOAT, @value2);
Again, if you execute the above code you will be able to get the string successfully converted to float.
*Note: Even though you can try changing the regional settings of the PC for setting the dot (.) as the decimal symbol, this will only affect the way the data is presented to you when returned from the casting/conversion call. Therefore, you still have to modify the varchar expression prior to the casting/conversion operation.
Regarding the message: error converting data type varchar to numeric
The above error message is similar to the one we examined in this article, therefore, the way for resolving the issue is similar to the one we described in the article. The only different for the numeric case, is that you will have to replace FLOAT with numeric[ (p[ ,s] )]. Learn more about the numeric data type in SQL Server and how to resolve the above conversion issue, by reading the relevant article on SQLNetHub.
Watch the Live Demonstration on the VARCHAR to FLOAT Data Type Conversion Error
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Artemakis Artemiou, a distinguished Senior Database and Software Architect, brings over 20 years of expertise to the IT industry. A Certified Database, Cloud, and AI professional, he earned the Microsoft Data Platform MVP title for nine consecutive years (2009-2018). As the founder of SQLNetHub and GnoelixiAI Hub, Artemakis is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and democratizing education on various fields such as: Databases, Cloud, AI, and Software Development. His commitment to simplicity and knowledge sharing defines his impactful presence in the tech community.
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10 thoughts on “Error converting data type varchar to float”
I need to convert nvarchar datatype of my table column to float
But during this operation
the below error message returned by the sql server 2005
'tbl_user_mast' table – Unable to modify table. Error converting data type nvarchar to float.
Hi Shanthi,
Can you post the code which causes this error message to be generated?
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi ) Can you help a beginner with StoredProcedure? )
I have a table with columns (type varchar) as example: D1-D2-D3 3 – б – 2 – – 8 1 – – I need to get the sum of each column if only there were numbers – then everything is OK write … SELECT SUM (CAST (Round (D1, 2) As decimal (5,2))) As D1 FROM … but i have a letters in some columns, so can't convert string to float
(if in columns is a letter,then SUM is equivalent to = 8 )
so i try to use CASE
… SELECT SumD2 = CASE D2 WHEN 'б' then 8 ELSE SUM (CAST (Round (D2, 2) As decimal (5,2))) END FROM … and here's a "gift" – Column dbo.Zadanie.D2 is invalid in the select list because it is not contained in either an aggregate function or ORDER BY clause
tell my what am I doing wrong?
Hi Elena,
You are getting this error because you are using an aggregate (SUM) in the one part of the CASE statement and you are not using an aggregate in the other part.
You could use a GROUP BY or an ORDER BY clause but you would not get the result you expect.
It is difficult to implement the requested logic with a single T-SQL statement because queries read record-by-record the contents of a table. Whenever a character occurs you would need to stop the aggregation and set the sum to 8.
Though, by the time you are using a stored procedure as you said, you can use multiple statements for implementing the required logic.
To this end I would suggest trying the following code in the stored procedure you are building:
DECLARE @d1 AS INT DECLARE @d2 AS INT DECLARE @d3 AS INT
DECLARE @sumd1 AS FLOAT DECLARE @sumd2 AS FLOAT DECLARE @sumd3 AS FLOAT
SET @d1=(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM testtable WHERE Isnumeric(d1) = 0 AND d1 IS NOT NULL)
SET @d2=(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM testtable WHERE Isnumeric(d2) = 0 AND d2 IS NOT NULL)
SET @d3=(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM testtable WHERE Isnumeric(d3) = 0 AND d3 IS NOT NULL)
IF @d1 = 0 SET @sumd1=(SELECT SUM(CAST(Round (d1, 2) AS DECIMAL (5, 2))) FROM testtable) ELSE SET @sumd1=8
SELECT @sumd1
IF @d2 = 0 SET @sumd2=(SELECT SUM(CAST(Round (d2, 2) AS DECIMAL (5, 2))) FROM testtable) ELSE SET @sumd2=8
SELECT @sumd2
IF @d3 = 0 SET @sumd3=(SELECT SUM(CAST(Round (d3, 2) AS DECIMAL (5, 2))) FROM testtable) ELSE SET @sumd3=8
SELECT @sumd3
If the table contained an ID column along with the value columns maybe another logic could be implemented but by the time the table contains only value columns the above is the workaround I would suggest.
Cheers, Artemis
Thank you for your quick and detailed response so) I did so:
SELECT
SUM(CASE D1 WHEN 'б' THEN 8 WHEN 'о' THEN 8 WHEN 'от' THEN 8 WHEN 'к' THEN 8 ELSE CAST(ROUND(D1,2) AS DECIMAL(5,2)) END) as SumD1, SUM(CASE D2 WHEN 'б' THEN 8 WHEN 'о' THEN 8 WHEN 'от' THEN 8 WHEN 'к' THEN 8 ELSE CAST(ROUND(D2,2) AS DECIMAL(5,2)) END) as SumD2, SUM(CASE D3 WHEN 'б' THEN 8 WHEN 'о' THEN 8 WHEN 'от' THEN 8 WHEN 'к' THEN 8 ELSE CAST(ROUND(D3,2) AS DECIMAL(5,2)) END) as SumD3,
FROM dbo.PrZad
WHERE (StaffID = @StaffId) AND (MONTH(PlanDataOtch) = @Месяц) AND (YEAR(PlanDataOtch) = @Год) AND (CodZak <> 24)
It works! Thank you!!
You are welcome! I am glad I helped you!
I also incurred same error msg "Error converting data type nvarchar to numeric", solved converting numeric column to varchar
Problem: TableA.EmpID = TableB.EmployeeID
Here TableA.EmpID is varchar datatype and in other end TableB.EmployeeID was in Decimal datatype. I converted TableB.EmployeeID to varchar datatype.
Solution: TableA.EmpID = Cast (TableB.EmployeeID as Varchar)
So many years after and this function saved my day, month, year, life.. Thanks!
Hi Victor,
I am really glad I helped!
Cheers!
Comments are closed.
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I need to convert nvarchar datatype of my table column to float
But during this operation
the below error message returned by the sql server 2005
'tbl_user_mast' table – Unable to modify table. Error converting data type nvarchar to float.
Hi Shanthi,
Can you post the code which causes this error message to be generated?
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi )
Can you help a beginner with StoredProcedure? )
I have a table with columns (type varchar) as example:
D1-D2-D3
3 – б –
2 – – 8
1 – –
I need to get the sum of each column
if only there were numbers – then everything is OK
write
…
SELECT
SUM (CAST (Round (D1, 2) As decimal (5,2))) As D1
FROM
…
but i have a letters in some columns, so can't convert string to float
(if in columns is a letter,then SUM is equivalent to = 8 )
so i try to use CASE
…
SELECT
SumD2 =
CASE D2
WHEN 'б' then 8
ELSE
SUM (CAST (Round (D2, 2) As decimal (5,2)))
END
FROM
…
and here's a "gift" – Column dbo.Zadanie.D2 is invalid in the select list because it is not contained in either an aggregate function or ORDER BY clause
tell my what am I doing wrong?
Hi Elena,
You are getting this error because you are using an aggregate (SUM) in the one part of the CASE statement and you are not using an aggregate in the other part.
You could use a GROUP BY or an ORDER BY clause but you would not get the result you expect.
It is difficult to implement the requested logic with a single T-SQL statement because queries read record-by-record the contents of a table. Whenever a character occurs you would need to stop the aggregation and set the sum to 8.
Though, by the time you are using a stored procedure as you said, you can use multiple statements for implementing the required logic.
To this end I would suggest trying the following code in the stored procedure you are building:
DECLARE @d1 AS INT
DECLARE @d2 AS INT
DECLARE @d3 AS INT
DECLARE @sumd1 AS FLOAT
DECLARE @sumd2 AS FLOAT
DECLARE @sumd3 AS FLOAT
SET @d1=(SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM testtable
WHERE Isnumeric(d1) = 0
AND d1 IS NOT NULL)
SET @d2=(SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM testtable
WHERE Isnumeric(d2) = 0
AND d2 IS NOT NULL)
SET @d3=(SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM testtable
WHERE Isnumeric(d3) = 0
AND d3 IS NOT NULL)
IF @d1 = 0
SET @sumd1=(SELECT SUM(CAST(Round (d1, 2) AS DECIMAL (5, 2)))
FROM testtable)
ELSE
SET @sumd1=8
SELECT @sumd1
IF @d2 = 0
SET @sumd2=(SELECT SUM(CAST(Round (d2, 2) AS DECIMAL (5, 2)))
FROM testtable)
ELSE
SET @sumd2=8
SELECT @sumd2
IF @d3 = 0
SET @sumd3=(SELECT SUM(CAST(Round (d3, 2) AS DECIMAL (5, 2)))
FROM testtable)
ELSE
SET @sumd3=8
SELECT @sumd3
If the table contained an ID column along with the value columns maybe another logic could be implemented but by the time the table contains only value columns the above is the workaround I would suggest.
Cheers,
Artemis
Thank you for your quick and detailed response so)
I did so:
SELECT
SUM(CASE D1 WHEN 'б' THEN 8 WHEN 'о' THEN 8 WHEN 'от' THEN 8 WHEN 'к' THEN 8 ELSE CAST(ROUND(D1,2) AS DECIMAL(5,2)) END) as SumD1,
SUM(CASE D2 WHEN 'б' THEN 8 WHEN 'о' THEN 8 WHEN 'от' THEN 8 WHEN 'к' THEN 8 ELSE CAST(ROUND(D2,2) AS DECIMAL(5,2)) END) as SumD2,
SUM(CASE D3 WHEN 'б' THEN 8 WHEN 'о' THEN 8 WHEN 'от' THEN 8 WHEN 'к' THEN 8 ELSE CAST(ROUND(D3,2) AS DECIMAL(5,2)) END) as SumD3,
FROM dbo.PrZad
WHERE (StaffID = @StaffId) AND (MONTH(PlanDataOtch) = @Месяц) AND (YEAR(PlanDataOtch) = @Год) AND (CodZak <> 24)
It works!
Thank you!!
You are welcome! I am glad I helped you!
I also incurred same error msg "Error converting data type nvarchar to numeric", solved converting numeric column to varchar
Problem: TableA.EmpID = TableB.EmployeeID
Here TableA.EmpID is varchar datatype and in other end TableB.EmployeeID was in Decimal datatype. I converted TableB.EmployeeID to varchar datatype.
Solution: TableA.EmpID = Cast (TableB.EmployeeID as Varchar)
So many years after and this function saved my day, month, year, life.. Thanks!
Hi Victor,
I am really glad I helped!
Cheers!