Who Uses EXEC_SPF?

BLOMASKY

I use this in my applications to update attributes from a SQL Stored Procedure. There is a bug in the fact it does not return strings only numbers. Vlad is planning on making a change that will require code changes wherever it is currently being used.

Am I the only one who uses this a lot in their application?

Bruce

PointsWell

I use it a little to compile dashboard data so I only ever get numbers back so would not have noticed this issue.

As a side note, what does SPF stand for? Stored Procedure Function? It automatically makes me think of Sun Protection Factor, but then SMH also means Sydney Morning Herald to me, so maybe I am too old to use the internets.

BLOMASKY

I "Assumes" SPF = Stored Procedure Function since the syntax is JUST like a SQL Function (with the = to the left of the function name, BUT it is a Stored procedure and has that syntax with the OUT attribute.

Bruce

Jaymer

Bruce, I've got it scattered across several apps at multiple customers. Was glad that it got added.
Was a pain tho that it didn't do strings. Would have saved me some work.

nhofkes

BLOMASKY wrote
I use this in my applications to update attributes from a SQL Stored Procedure. There is a bug in the fact it does not return strings only numbers. Vlad is planning on making a change that will require code changes wherever it is currently being used.

Has this meanwhile been amended? The current Aware IM documentation (https://www.awareim.com/dokuwiki/doku.php/a_f/f/af/exec_spf) states:

The returned valus is of Plain Text type. If you need to convert it to number use the AS_NUMBER function on the result

This is actually the opposite.

BLOMASKY

Yes, it works fine to return a numeric field. I use this often.

Bruce

nhofkes

I am sure it works fine, but my question was: does it return a number or a string?
If it returns a number, then the documentation is not correct. If it returns a string, then this must have been changed at some time between your original post and today, because you wrote that it returns only numbers.
Thanks for the clarification.

BLOMASKY

I have only been using it to return a numeric. Perhaps it is smarter now and returns whatever the "OUT" variable in the stored procedure is defined as. Perhaps??

Bruce