TYPE() Returns "N" for Double, Float, and Integer

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code

The following code demonstrates this:

   ***TYPETEST.PRG***
   CLEAR
   CREATE CURSOR SYS(2015) (bField B(6),fField F(16,8),yField Y)
   INSERT INTO (ALIAS()) VALUES (111.111, 222.222, 333.333)
   ? "The types are: Created Double="+TYPE("bField")+", Created Float=";
   + TYPE("fField")+", Created Currency="+ TYPE("yField")
				

Here is the result:

Why Numeric Is Always Returned

The Float type is included for compatibility only. It is functionally equivalent to Numeric. The Double type is relevant only in a table, denoting how the field data is stored to disk.

All Float types are stored internally as Doubles, converted to ASCII when written to disk, and then converted back when read. This can result in a loss of accuracy, so a Double type field is stored as an 8-byte binary value to avoid inaccuracies.