[DERBY-1804] [DOC] CAST conversions between data types table is incorrect in Reference manual in some VARCHAR and TIMESTAMP cases

• Type: Bug
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed
• Affects Version/s: 10.2.2.0
• Fix Version/s: 10.2.1.6, 10.3.1.4
• Component/s: Documentation
• Assignee: Laura Stewart
• Reporter: Susan Cline
• Created: 01/Sep/06 18:18
• Updated: 03/Oct/06 18:12
• Resolved: 03/Oct/06 18:12

Description

The CAST function documentation contains a table which lists the explicit conversions between data types.
http://db.apache.org/derby/docs/10.2/ref/rrefsqlj33562.html

For the 'SOURCE' values (the columns) of SMALLINT, INTEGER, BIGINT and DECIMAL the CAST to VARCHAR is listed. However, they should not be listed because this cast is not allowed. See the output below;

ij> create table smallint_tab(id integer, col2 smallint);
0 rows inserted/updated/deleted
ij> insert into smallint_tab values (1, 10);
1 row inserted/updated/deleted
ij> select cast(col2 as varchar(10)) from smallint_tab;
ERROR 42846: Cannot convert types 'SMALLINT' to 'VARCHAR'.

Also from integer to varchar does not work:

ij> create table int_tab (id integer, col2 integer);
0 rows inserted/updated/deleted
ij> insert into int_tab values (1, 10);
1 row inserted/updated/deleted
ij> select cast(col2 as varchar(20)) from int_tab;
ERROR 42846: Cannot convert types 'INTEGER' to 'VARCHAR'.

Bigint neither:

ij> create table bigint_tab (id integer, col2 bigint);
0 rows inserted/updated/deleted
ij> insert into bigint_tab values (1, 10);
ij> select cast(col2 as varchar(20)) from bigint_tab;
ERROR 42846: Cannot convert types 'BIGINT' to 'VARCHAR'.

Nor decimal:

ij> create table decimal_tab (id integer, col2 decimal);
0 rows inserted/updated/deleted
ij> insert into decimal_tab values (1, 1.88);
1 row inserted/updated/deleted
ij> select cast(col2 as varchar(3)) from decimal_tab;
ERROR 42846: Cannot convert types 'DECIMAL' to 'VARCHAR'.

The Cast from DATE to TIMESTAMP and TIME to TIMESTAMP also are not allowed, although they
are listed. They need to be removed;

ij> create table date_tab (id integer, col2 date);
0 rows inserted/updated/deleted
ij> insert into date_tab values (1, CURRENT_DATE);
1 row inserted/updated/deleted
ij> select cast(col2 as timestamp) from date_tab;
ERROR 42846: Cannot convert types 'DATE' to 'TIMESTAMP'.

ij> create table time_tab (id integer, col2 time);
0 rows inserted/updated/deleted
ij> insert into time_tab values (1, CURRENT_TIME);
1 row inserted/updated/deleted
ij> select cast(col2 as timestamp) from time_tab;
ERROR 42846: Cannot convert types 'TIME' to 'TIMESTAMP'.