Convert String to Number for Filtering

Follow

Brett Bernstein

• May 28, 2015 14:15

I noticed that I can't filter by text string fields. I keep file numbers in string fields and they look like 99955.023. I want to filter by the prefix 99955. I am able to pull that substring out, but I get the error that the output needs to be a number. How can I convert the variable to a number so Podio calculation field won't reject it? Thank you!

0

• 

  Stefan Ukena

  • May 28, 2015 14:49

  Hi Brett,

  you need to use a JavaScript Number-object. Try this:

  Number(@your_text_field)
  

  Note that you probably have to create a new calculation field for this to work, because Podio is kind of picky when it sees the output change from text to numbers.

  Best,
  Stefan

  http://www.diekollaborateure.com/go/podio/help

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Brett Bernstein

  • May 28, 2015 15:16

  Thanks for the quick reply! I tried and I get the following error:

  "The result is not a valid number"

  Here is my code:

  ID = @All of File No.[0].split(".",1) + ""

  write = Number (ID)

  The field is a number field. When I create a new field and put in the same code, it seems to make it a text field, which doesn't come up in the filtering options. I tested the value of ID and it shows 99,794 (which is the 99794 prefix in a file no 99794.001).

  Any idea why it may not be a valid number?

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Stefan Ukena

  • May 28, 2015 15:55

  Hi Brett,

  sorry, I forgot this might happen. Podio sometimes uses random "test-data" in calculations which usually is helpful, but in some cases it's not. :/

  When you user Number(x) with an x that really is NOT a number, this results in a special Javascript-Number instance "NaN" (short for NotaNumber) and Podio will refuse to save the calculation.

  To avoid this, return -1 or any number if isNaN(Number(x)) is true, else return Number(x):

  var your_text_field = @Titel;
  
  no_dots = your_text_field.replace(".", "");
  var as_number = Number(no_dots);
  
  if (isNaN(as_number)) {
    -1;
  } else {
    as_number;
  }
  

  Note: once you successfully saved the calculation and it works, you can change this line to return null instead, if you want.

  Hope this helps! Best,
  Stefan

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Brett Bernstein

  • May 28, 2015 16:22

  Worked!!! Thank you so much!!!

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Rainer Grabowski (FVM)

  • May 28, 2015 17:28

  Just for information: Christian Holm, the former Podio-CDO, gave me this advice, to force the calculation field to accept a NaN result as number so you can save it:

  parseInt(no_dots, 10) || 0 
  

  " || 0" does the same as:
  if (isNaN(as_number)) {
  -1;
  but it's faster to write :) .

  Rainer

  1

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Stefan Ukena

  • May 28, 2015 17:54

  @Rainer: good point about using parseInt() here, thanks!

  (I simply can never remember JavaScript's crazy type-conversion and true/false evaluation rules, so I will never be able to remember to use || 0 :) )

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Brett Bernstein

  • June 01, 2015 18:15

  Thanks for the alternative solution, Rainer!

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Mike Davis

  • January 01, 2022 00:48

  Just before I found this post, I screamed into the air, "Where is Rainer? He would know."

  Rainer, You always have the answers. Every time. The Podio Demi-Diety. There is also Andreas (either one), but you guys are all on the same level in my book. If I was on myspace still, I would put you in my top 8....maybe 4...if I could convince you to be my friend on myspace.

  :Werenotworthywayne'sworldgif:

  I could probably tone it down with a simple thank you. 

  0

  Comment actions Permalink

Please sign in to leave a comment.