Formatting Numbers by padding with leading zeros in SQL Server
SqlSql ServerTsqlString FormattingSql Problem Overview
We have an old SQL table that was used by SQL Server 2000 for close to 10 years.
In it, our employee badge numbers are stored as char(6) from 000001 to 999999.
I am writing a web application now, and I need to store employee badge numbers.
In my new table, I could take the short cut and copy the old table, but I am hoping for better data transfer, smaller size, etc, by simply storing the int values from 1 to 999999.
In C#, I can quickly format an int value for the badge number using
public static string GetBadgeString(int badgeNum) {
return string.Format("{0:000000}", badgeNum);
// alternate
// return string.Format("{0:d6}", badgeNum);
}
How would I modify this simple SQL query to format the returned value as well?
SELECT EmployeeID
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
If EmployeeID is 7135, this query should return 007135.
Sql Solutions
Solution 1 - Sql
Change the number 6 to whatever your total length needs to be:
SELECT REPLICATE('0',6-LEN(EmployeeId)) + EmployeeId
If the column is an INT, you can use RTRIM to implicitly convert it to a VARCHAR
SELECT REPLICATE('0',6-LEN(RTRIM(EmployeeId))) + RTRIM(EmployeeId)
And the code to remove these 0s and get back the 'real' number:
SELECT RIGHT(EmployeeId,(LEN(EmployeeId) - PATINDEX('%[^0]%',EmployeeId)) + 1)
Solution 2 - Sql
Just use the FORMAT function (works on SQL Server 2012 or newer):
SELECT FORMAT(EmployeeID, '000000')
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
Reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh213505.aspx
Solution 3 - Sql
You can change your procedure in this way
SELECT Right('000000' + CONVERT(NVARCHAR, EmployeeID), 6) AS EmpIDText,
EmployeeID
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
However this assumes that your EmployeeID is a numeric value and this code change the result to a string, I suggest to add again the original numeric value
EDIT Of course I have not read carefully the question above. It says that the field is a char(6) so EmployeeID is not a numeric value. While this answer has still a value per se, it is not the correct answer to the question above.
Solution 4 - Sql
Hated having to CONVERT the int, and this seems much simpler. Might even perform better since there's only one string conversion and simple addition.
select RIGHT(1000000 + EmployeeId, 6) ...
Just make sure the "1000000" has at least as many zeros as the size needed.
Solution 5 - Sql
I am posting all at one place, all works for me to pad with 4 leading zero :)
declare @number int = 1;
print right('0000' + cast(@number as varchar(4)) , 4)
print right('0000' + convert(varchar(4), @number) , 4)
print right(replicate('0',4) + convert(varchar(4), @number) , 4)
print cast(replace(str(@number,4),' ','0')as char(4))
print format(@number,'0000')
Solution 6 - Sql
From version 2012 and on you can use
SELECT FORMAT(EmployeeID,'000000')
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
Solution 7 - Sql
Another way, just for completeness.
DECLARE @empNumber INT = 7123
SELECT STUFF('000000', 6-LEN(@empNumber)+1, LEN(@empNumber), @empNumber)
Or, as per your query
SELECT STUFF('000000', 6-LEN(EmployeeID)+1, LEN(EmployeeID), EmployeeID)
AS EmployeeCode
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
Solution 8 - Sql
As clean as it could get and give scope of replacing with variables:
Select RIGHT(REPLICATE('0',6) + EmployeeID, 6) from dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
Solution 9 - Sql
SELECT replicate('0', 6 - len(employeeID)) + convert(varchar, employeeID) as employeeID
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
Solution 10 - Sql
SELECT
cast(replace(str(EmployeeID,6),' ','0')as char(6))
FROM dbo.RequestItems
WHERE ID=0
Solution 11 - Sql
To account for negative numbers without overflowing 6 characters...
FORMAT(EmployeeID, '000000;-00000')
Solution 12 - Sql
The solution works for signed / negative numbers with leading zeros, for all Sql versions:
DECLARE
@n money = -3,
@length tinyint = 15,
@decimals tinyint = 0
SELECT REPLICATE('-', CHARINDEX('-', @n, 1)) + REPLACE(REPLACE(str(@n, @length, @decimals), '-', ''), ' ', '0')
Solution 13 - Sql
The simplest is always the best:
Select EmployeeID*1 as EmployeeID
Solution 14 - Sql
In my version of SQL I can't use REPLICATE. SO I did this:
SELECT
CONCAT(REPEAT('0', 6-LENGTH(emplyeeID)), emplyeeID) AS emplyeeID
FROM
dbo.RequestItems`