#Computation error while doing Sum(ToNumber(dimension)) 1

[annu0912]

All,

I am using Business Objects 6.5 to create my reports. In one of them I brought in a character dimension(Years: 2000,2001 etc were the values). I had to do a Sum(ToNumber(Year)), where Year was a character object.

This used to work previously but suddenly it started giving me #Computation error yesterday. So I had to work around the problem by creating a variable for ToNumber(Year) and then doing a Sum(Variable).

Eventhough the problem is fixed, i am wondering why it the formula had suddenly given me errors.. If anyone had a similar error and know why this happens please reply. I would be very glad to know.

Thanks,
Anu

 

[blom0344]

You would probably need to examine BO's code to trace the problem. From experience I'd have to say that storing expressions in variables and referencing them in another variable seems to work better than using more complex expressions in one go...

Why? Part of the answer may be that BO never rebuild their products from scratch. Over the years they just kept adding functionality and supplying patches, but 6.5 is deep down not really different than version 4.0 from 10 years ago..

I would also advice to convert datatypes within the universe. SQL is a lot more dependable anyway

Ties Blom