Re: numeric data type?

Thanks for answer, but in documentation I found that Numeric can be without
scale and precision defined:

"Specifying
NUMERICwithout any precision or scale creates a column in which numeric
values of any precision and scale can be stored, up to the implementation
limit on precision. A column of this kind will not coerce input values to
any particular scale, whereas numeric columns with a declared scale will
coerce input values to that scale. (The SQL standard requires a default
scale of 0, i.e., coercion to integer precision. We find this a bit useless.
If you're concerned about portability, always specify the precision and
scale explicitly.) "

Talking about float: "If you require exact storage and calculations (such as
for monetary amounts), use the numeric type instead. "

So, it seems that numeric without parameters (precision, scale) behave
similar to float, but is much exact. Am I right or I missunderstood?

Thanks,

Zlatko



----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Caduto" <tony.caduto@amsoftwaredesign.com>
To: "Zlatko Matić" <zlatko.matic1@sb.t-com.hr>
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] numeric data type?


Zlatko Matić wrote:
> Is "numeric" data type good choice for a field that would store integer
> values in most cases, but sometimes decimal values as well?
> Thanks,
>  Zlatko
>
I think you would be better off with a float.
numeric has to have a scale set to it, while float4 or float8 does not.

--
Tony Caduto
AM Software Design
Home of PG Lightning Admin for Postgresql
http://www.amsoftwaredesign.com