Checking if field data = numeric value (equivalent of ISNUMBER)? | Community
Skip to main content
H
HrugDe
Level 2
May 22, 2020
Question

Checking if field data = numeric value (equivalent of ISNUMBER)?

  • May 22, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1049 views

We have an issue where some users accidentally enter a non-numeric value in a custom field. This has resulted in downstream issues with some of the python/API scripts that we run to load data into projects.

I'd like to create an exception report where I could check if the custom field has a non-numeric value and where the field is not blank. I reviewed the list of expressions available in WF and didn't see anything that would work.

Anyone have any creative suggestions? Thank you!

    This post is no longer active and is closed to new replies. Need help? Start a new post to ask your question.

    3 replies

    Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStore
    Community Advisor
    Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
    Community Advisor
    May 22, 2020

    Hi Hrug,

    I often refer to this Calculated data expressions reference in such cases, and for your Is This Numeric challenge, can suggest a few options:

    • In your exception report, make a column to attempt to take the square root using SQRT: rows with non numeric entries (provided they are > 0) will return values, but otherwise, an error
    • Similarly, you could filter for rows where "My Field" is Not Equal to "NUMBER(My Field) + 0", since a number will be the same (5 = 5 + 0), but a string will not (apple <> apple + 0)
    • Best of all, though, if it's possible, would be to change that parameter to be a Number, rather than a Text, so you'll avoid the problem in the first place by having Workfront deny entry of anything BUT real numbers

    Regards,

    Doug

    H
    HrugDeAuthor
    Level 2
    May 22, 2020

    Thanks Doug. On the last suggestion, can you please elaborate? Do you mean format the custom form field as a Number? Anything else I can do to reject non-numeric input?

    H
    HrugDeAuthor
    Level 2
    May 22, 2020

    Think I got this figured out, but another way. I created another calc field that checks the LEN() of "My Field". If length of the data in "My Field" is <> 12, then it returns "Error". Now I can report on the "Error" field separately in a report.

    Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStore
    Community Advisor
    Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
    Community Advisor
    May 22, 2020

    Hi Hrug,

    Glad you got something worked out. What I was referring to was the data type of the Custom Parameter: when you create it, you could choose "Number" instead of "Text" to ensure that only numbers are allowed to be entered.

    Regards,

    Doug

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

      Loading footer...