Function documentationALPHA(x,n) Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

ALPHA(x,n) is a string function that enables a character x (string specification) in ASCII to be converted to a different one or two-character representation defined in the DEFAULTMAP (mapchar_set_name). Only expressions that produce an alphanumeric value are permitted as string specifications.

ALPHA(x,n) is used to define the sort sequence.

The function ALPHA(x,n) uses the MAPCHAR(x,n,i) function internally (where i is the DEFAULTMAP) and also performs a conversion to uppercase letters (UPPER(x)).

ALPHA(x,n)

x, n

Result of the ALPHA(x,n) Function

x is a character

n is an unsigned integer

UPPER(MAPCHAR(x,n,DEFAULTMAP))

Specifying n (an entire number without a sign) is optional. n specifies the maximum length of the result.

Example Example

The ALPHA function allows a useful sorting process, for example, when "ü" should be sorted as "UE". The mapchar set with the name DEFAULTMAP is used.

SELECT...,ALPHA(<column_name>) sort,...FROM...ORDER BY sort

End of the example.