Description

Converts numeric characters that occur at the beginning of a string to a number.

Returns

A number. If conversion fails, returns zero.

Category

Conversion functions, String functions

Function syntax

Val(string)

See also

IsNumeric

Parameters

Usage

This function works as follows:

• If TestValue = "234A56?7'", Val(TestValue) returns 234.
• If TestValue = "234'5678'9?'", Val(TestValue) returns 234.
• If TestValue = "BG234", Val(TestValue) returns the value 0, (not an error).
• If TestValue = "0", Val(TestValue) returns the value 0, (not an error).

Example

<h3>Val Example</h3>
<cfif IsDefined("FORM.theTestValue")>
    <cfif Val(FORM.theTestValue) is not 0>
        <h3>The string <cfoutput>#DE(FORM.theTestValue)#</cfoutput> 
    can be converted to a number:
        <cfoutput>#Val(FORM.theTestValue)#</cfoutput></h3>
    <cfelse>
        <h3>The beginning of the string <cfoutput>#DE(FORM.theTestValue)#
         </cfoutput> cannot be converted to a number</h3>
    </cfif>
</cfif>
<form action = "val.cfm">
<p>Enter a string, and determine whether its beginning can be evaluated 
    to a numeric value.
<p>
<input type = "Text" 
    name = "TheTestValue" 
    value = "123Boy">
<input type = "Submit" 
    value = "Is the beginning numeric?" 
    name = "">
</form>