[ database query mysql ] Jim Dickenson wrote:
> Am I to assume that based on your response that one should never use a float > field type if you ever want to select the data? No, that wasn't quite what he said. You can certainly select on a float field, as long as you perform a meaningful operation. For instance, if you want to check for "equality", then instead of "val = 10.1", you have to check for "abs(val-10.1) < 0.00001" (or whatever your tolerance for inequality is). Simple greater-than or less-than comparisons are always, of course, OK. Also, because of the equality problem, a "unique" index on a floating-point quantity may not be unique: 12.299999 and 12.300001 may both get entered in the database, and both display as "12.3". -- Shankar. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Before posting, please check: http://www.mysql.com/manual.php (the manual) http://lists.mysql.com/ (the list archive) To request this thread, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Trouble unsubscribing? Try: http://lists.mysql.com/php/unsubscribe.php
