Investment Studio > Expressions > Functions > Text > VALUE

float value(string argument)

Returns the number represented by the argument string.

To represent a number, the string must consist of an optional sign (+ or -) followed by digits and an optional decimal separator. An 'E' or 'e' and a signed integer may follow (scientific notation). Leading and trailing blanks are ignored, as are any thousands separator characters.

The decimal and thousands separator characters are system-defined. See the Regional Settings applet in the Windows Control Panel.

If the string can not be parsed as a number, an attempt is made to parse it first as a date and then (if that fails too) as a time, using the conventions of the datevalue and timevalue functions.

Note that automatic type conversion often makes the use of this function redundant.

Example

With standard US number format settings,

=value("3,001.75")

equals 3001.75; with standard US date format settings,

=value("2/15/2002")

equals 37302.

See also datevalue, timevalue.