I am getting an error - the field resulted in a string but it is numeric.

Hi, I am getting an error "the field resulted in a string but it is numeric". Alteryx is suggesting to add the ToNumber formula.

My data type is "int64", so I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Can someone let me know how to apply the ToNumber formula to the statements below? Any help will be much appreciated!

Virtual column

If IsNull([Actual # of Virtual Attendees]) THEN [Virtual est attendees] ELSE [Actual # of Virtual Attendees] ENDIF

In-Person column

If IsNull([Actual # of In-person Attendees]) THEN [Request Expected Attendees] ELSE [Actual # of In-person Attendees] ENDIF

Total Attendance

[Attendance - InPerson]+[Attendance - Virtual]

Workflow

Accepted answers

ShankerV

Hi @Marcegon

Could you please try the below.

Total Attendance

tonumber([Attendance - InPerson])+tonumber([Attendance - Virtual])

We can't do addition on String datatype, even though the numbers are stored in string.

Hence you can use tonumber([column name]) and then perform the addition.

Hope this helps!!!!!

Many thanks

Shanker V

All comments

ShankerV

Hi @Marcegon

Solution:

Virtual column

If IsNull([Actual # of Virtual Attendees])
THEN tonumber([Virtual est attendees])
ELSE tonumber([Actual # of Virtual Attendees])
ENDIF

In-Person column

If IsNull([Actual # of In-person Attendees])
THEN tonumber([Request Expected Attendees])
ELSE tonumber([Actual # of In-person Attendees])
ENDIF

Total Attendance

tonumber([Attendance - InPerson])+tonumber([Attendance - Virtual])

I have mocked up the data to explain your issue.

The column ACTUAL is a String datatype.

But when I am using a formula to copy to the new column VIRTUAL COLUMN, I have defined the column datatype as INT64.

Hence STRING to INT datatype issue is happening.

Solution:

Many thanks

Shanker V

Yoshiro_Fujimori

Hi @Marcegon ,

The error message should say which Expression is in problem (as underlined in Green).

Once you locate the expression, please double check if the data type of the result is numeric.

If IsNull([Actual # of Virtual Attendees])

THEN [Virtual est attendees]

ELSE [Actual # of Virtual Attendees]

ENDIF

If you still see the expression is OK, please consider attaching the workflow packaged with the input data.

Marcegon

Hi, I am still learning Alteryx, so I am not sure what I need to do. I am trying to add the numbers in (2) columns but I am getting the error I mentioned before, and the numbers are not adding up. I selected the Function, then operator "addition" and data type int64 but it is not working. See example below:

In Person Virtual Total Attendance

500 28 50028

Yoshiro_Fujimori

Hi @Marcegon ,

In this kind of error, it is more effective to see the real data.

Can you save the workflow with menu

"Options > Export Workflow"

to package the data with the workflow and attach the package (.yxzp file)?

ShankerV

Hi @Marcegon

Could you please try the below.

Total Attendance

tonumber([Attendance - InPerson])+tonumber([Attendance - Virtual])

We can't do addition on String datatype, even though the numbers are stored in string.

Hence you can use tonumber([column name]) and then perform the addition.

Hope this helps!!!!!

Many thanks

Shanker V

Lakshya_05

Hello,

Just use the ToNumber function when performing the addition on the last column as string data types cannot be added. That is why you need to use the tonumber() function to add the two columns.

Kindly refer to the below article to understand more about the tonumber() function.

https://help.alteryx.com/20223/designer/conversion-functions

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Lakshya Pant

Marcegon

This worked! Thank you so much!

Marcegon

Thank you!

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