At 09:45 AM 9/02/2005 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi,
>
>1. Please what function can I use to convert a string to integer (or
>numeric generally)?

Use CAST(astring as integer). You can't have some kind of "generic"
numeric thing, you must cast to type.

>
>2. Some of the functions listed in InterBase Documentation are not
>applicable to Firebird (eg, SUBSTR).

Yes, they are. In Firebird, as in InterBase, these are external functions,
a.k.a. UDFs. You must declare them in your database. Declaration scripts
are in the UDF subdirectory.

>Please can anyone point me to any URL where I can get the list of Updated
>Functions tolerated by Firebird?

For UDFs, any well-tested UDF is tolerated. Firebird incudes two UDF
libraries (ib_udf and fbudf) in its distribution. Others are available
from download sites, esp. the Download > Contributed section at
www.ibphoenix.com.

Firebird has an internal function SUBSTRING that is SQL standard. Other
internal functions can be counted on your fingers - CASE/COALESCE/NULLIF,
EXTRACT (for date and time parts), CAST, SUM, AVG, MAX, MIN, GEN_ID.

Sounds as though you need some docs. See the Firebird website "Novices"
area for advice...

./hb