@FROM_STRING

The FROM_STRING function sets the context of its single parameter to a data type of string. It supports the decimal number, integral number, string, and property return types. The value of its single parameter will be converted from the decimal number data type to the data type of the context of the FROM_STRING function call.

One of the main uses of this function is to set the context of another function call to string. The FROM_STRING function allows for other functions to be called in a string context and to then return that value in a data type such as integral or decimal number, depending on the context of the FROM_STRING function call. While this function supports the string return type, it is unnecessary to call this function in this context.

Note that converting from a string to a numeric data type is not considered type safe. Such operations should be limited in use and all reasonable precautions should be made to ensure the string value being converted to a numeric data type contains only numeric characters. The FROM_STRING function processes each character of a string one at a time and, in a numeric conversion, will stop processing with the first non-numeric character found in the source string. The value returned will then be the numeric value at the point the processing ended, which is not likely to be a useful value.

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Supported Return Types