PL/SQL method

[Jackie Wang]

  private boolean isAnInteger(String sInteger) throws Exception
    {
        try {
            new Integer(sInteger);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            return false;
        }
        return true;
    } 

if i wanna write a very similar method in pl/sql.
what's the equivalent?
Thanks!

[Avi Abrami]

Hi Jackie,
How's this:

create or replace function IS_AN_INTEGER (S_INTEGER varchar2)
 return boolean
is
  RETURN_VALUE  boolean;
  A_INT         number;
begin
  begin
    A_INT := to_number(S_INTEGER);
    RETURN_VALUE := true;
  exception
    when others then
      RETURN_VALUE := false;
  end;
  return RETURN_VALUE;
end;

Just out of curiosity, have you read the PL/SQL User's Guide and Reference?
I couldn't tell from your post which version of Oracle you are using, so I am assuming the latest version. Here is a link to the online version:
http://download-west.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/appdev.920/a96624/toc.htm
Hope this helps.
Good Luck,
Avi.

[Jackie Wang]

hi Avi,
thanks for the quick respond and i found the site is VERY useful =)
appreciated that.

[Jackie Wang]

how to handle
when there's exception?
new java.math.BigDecimal();
Is that the same function?
Thanks avi

[Jackie Wang]

i.e.

    private boolean isABigDecimal(String s) throws Exception
    {
        try {
            new java.math.BigDecimal(s);
        }
        catch(Exception e){
            return false;
        }
        return true;
    }