Displaying result in scientific notation

Hi, Why would the following query return the result in scientific notation? This only happens when the value is 0. Other values return the result as expected. declare @x DECIMAL(12,9), @y DECIMAL(12,9) select @x = 0, @y = 1 select @x as x, @y as y x y----- 0E-9 1.000000000 ----- Dbvis 9.03. Database SQL server 8 OR sybase 12.5 ----- If I use the MS Query analyzer tool the results are: x y ----- .000000000 1.000000000 Thanks, Gary

Hi Gary, The default number format for Decimal is "Unformatted" and that results in scientific notation for 0 (Java rule, don't ask me why). If you want it to be presented as "0", set the Decimal Number Format to "####.##" in Tool Properties, Data Formats. Or as "0.0", set it to "###0.0#" (the field can be edited if none of the predefined patterns are suitable). All numeric pattern symbols that you can use are described here: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/text/DecimalFormat.html Best Regards, Hans

Thanks Hans, That fixed it. I chose #,###.#################### as the decimal number format. Slightly modifying the example in the original post as: declare @x DECIMAL(18,9), @y DECIMAL(18,9) select @x = 0, @y = 123456789.123456789 select @x as x, @y as y produces result: x y - --------------------- 0 123,456,789.123456789 Gary