Is numeric?

[Aaron DeLoach]

I may have cross-posted this... :-(

I'm a VB programmer getting *way* to deep into this wonderful new JS
venture. I looked around for a function like VBs' IsNumeric without much
success. I had to roll my own. Does anyone see any bugs in this?

function IsNumeric(expre ssion) {

var nums = "0123456789 ";

if (expression.len gth==0)return(f alse);

for (var n=0; n < expression.leng th; n++){

if(nums.indexOf (expression.cha rAt(n))==-1)return(false) ;
}

return(true);

}

[Mark]

One glaringly easier approach would be just to do something like this:
either
if (isNaN(expressi on))return false;
or
if (isNaN(parseInt (expression)))r eturn false;
or (assuming floating-point numbers are possible in your expression)
if (isNaN(parseFlo at(expression)) )return false;

One of those should fit what you're looking for. For more info on isNaN(),
just do a google search. Hell, if you use isNaN(), you don't need your
custom function in the first place. It's built in (just opposite of VB).

Good luck on your javascript adventures,
Matt

"Aaron DeLoach" <aa***@deloachc orp.com> wrote in message
news:jv******** ************@ea tel.net...

I may have cross-posted this... :-(

I'm a VB programmer getting *way* to deep into this wonderful new JS
venture. I looked around for a function like VBs' IsNumeric without much
success. I had to roll my own. Does anyone see any bugs in this?

function IsNumeric(expre ssion) {

var nums = "0123456789 ";

if (expression.len gth==0)return(f alse);

for (var n=0; n < expression.leng th; n++){

if(nums.indexOf (expression.cha rAt(n))==-1)return(false) ;
}

return(true);

}

[Aaron DeLoach]

I tried the isNaN() with unsatisfactory results. I don't quite understand
*how* it works but your post chopped the code from eight lines to three (I
like efficient code). I'll have to read the M$ link you provided. Thanks
for your help.

"Steve van Dongen" <st*****@hotmai l.com> wrote in message
news:44******** *************** *********@4ax.c om...

On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 23:13:42 -0600, "Mark" <bi***@charter. net> wrote:

One glaringly easier approach would be just to do something like this:
either
if (isNaN(expressi on))return false;
or
if (isNaN(parseInt (expression)))r eturn false;
or (assuming floating-point numbers are possible in your expression)
if (isNaN(parseFlo at(expression)) )return false;

One of those should fit what you're looking for. For more info on isNaN(),just do a google search. Hell, if you use isNaN(), you don't need your
custom function in the first place. It's built in (just opposite of VB).

Good luck on your javascript adventures,
Matt

"Aaron DeLoach" <aa***@deloachc orp.com> wrote in message
news:jv******* *************@e atel.net...

I may have cross-posted this... :-(

I'm a VB programmer getting *way* to deep into this wonderful new JS
venture. I looked around for a function like VBs' IsNumeric without much success. I had to roll my own. Does anyone see any bugs in this?

function IsNumeric(expre ssion) {

var nums = "0123456789 ";

if (expression.len gth==0)return(f alse);

for (var n=0; n < expression.leng th; n++){

if(nums.indexOf (expression.cha rAt(n))==-1)return(false) ;
}

return(true);

}

I just wanted to note that

if (isNaN(parseInt (expression)))r eturn false;

isn't a very good test because it allows bad things through. For
example, parseInt("40lak jsdlfj") is 40, which is a number, but the
original input string (obviously) isn't. It also blocks valid inputs
like "09" which is a valid decimal number but not a valid octal
number.

Aaron, that function of yours should work fine. You could also use a
regular expression.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en...gexpsyntax.asp
function IsNumeric(expre ssion)
{
return (String(express ion).search(/^\d+$/) != -1);
}

Regards,
Steve

[Lasse Reichstein Nielsen]

Steve van Dongen <st*****@hotmai l.com> writes:

I just wanted to note that

if (isNaN(parseInt (expression)))r eturn false; isn't a very good test because it allows bad things through. For
example, parseInt("40lak jsdlfj") is 40, which is a number, but the
original input string (obviously) isn't. It also blocks valid inputs
like "09" which is a valid decimal number but not a valid octal
number.

Valid point. Try this instead

function isNumeric(value ) {
return typeof value != "boolean" && value !== null && !isNaN(+ value);
}

The prefix "+" converts its argument to a number just like the Number
function.
The extra checks are there because booleans and null can be converted
to the numbers 0 and 1.
return (String(express ion).search(/^\d+$/) != -1);

You can make this a little shorter:
return String(expressi on).match(/^\d+$/);

--
Lasse Reichstein Nielsen - lr*@hotpop.com
Art D'HTML: <URL:http://www.infimum.dk/HTML/randomArtSplit. html>
'Faith without judgement merely degrades the spirit divine.'

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <jv************ ********@eatel. net>, seen in
news:comp.lang. javascript, Aaron DeLoach <aa***@deloachc orp.com> posted
at Mon, 28 Jul 2003 22:14:23 :-

I may have cross-posted this... :-(
You did not; perhaps you mean multi-posted.
I looked around for a function like VBs' IsNumeric without much
success.

Without an accurate knowledge of the VB function it is difficult to
emulate it reliably. For example. what about an empty string?

function IsNumeric(S) { return S > '' && ! isNaN(S) }

seems reasonable. But, for me, it accepts 1e9999 - Infinity is a
number.

function IsNumeric(S) { return S > '' && isFinite(S) }

However, in any practical application, the permissible input is likely
to be more limited; use a RegExp to test for, say, 1..5 decimal digits
preceded by sign or space.

OK = /^[-+ ]?\d{1,5}$/.test(S)

--
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