Invalid input syntax for integer - Mailing list pgsql-novice

From Hans Edwin Winzeler
Subject Invalid input syntax for integer
Date
Msg-id CABq1rrK9ao24fuMUHRtvN7oyTpTq-tGtZyzoEqnOn3Onznoc_g@mail.gmail.com
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Responses Re: Invalid input syntax for integer  (Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>)
Re: Invalid input syntax for integer  ("Jean-Yves F. Barbier" <12ukwn@gmail.com>)
Re: Invalid input syntax for integer  ("Jean-Yves F. Barbier" <12ukwn@gmail.com>)
List pgsql-novice
Hello,

I am new to PostgreSQL and have a data format issue that I can't resolve.

The input table from my .csv file (about 10 million records) that I am importing into PostgreSQL from a different program gives numbers in a format as follows, for example: 0-1788.000000 to indicate the value -1788. PostgreSQL gives me the error "invalid input syntax for integer" when I try to import the number (or invalid for numeric, real, double precision, etc. when I try to import it in those other formats). When I specify varchar(20) I get no problems and can import it, but then I can't use it numerically. How do I either:

  • Import the value as NUMERIC or INTEGER or REAL or FLOAT or something that I can use as a value rather than text, OR
  • How do I convert the varchar(20) that I have already imported into a numeric value?
Thanks

Edwin Winzeler

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