>I am going to create a new table and I want to include a datatype that is
>similar to a float.
>Please note that the 3 digits before the decimal point are a must, even when
>they are 0. e.g. 004.232 but the digits after the decimal point, and the
>decimal point itself, are optional.
>Anyone got any suggestions?

Leading zeroes doesn't sound like similar to a float. If it is, beware of
rounding problems (floats are not stored exactly)! To me this sound like a
string - unless you are doing any calculations like adding to or
multiplying your type, of course.

HTH,
Set