# convert

## Overview

The `convert` statement is used to convert values in a column from base-10 to base-16 or vice-versa.

## Syntax

**`convert`***`colName`***`to decimal|hex from decimal|hex`**

{% hint style="info" %}
The keywords `dec`and`decimal`and the keywords`hex`and`hexadecimal`are equivalent.
{% endhint %}

## Details

When converting values in a column, the following considerations apply:

* Values in the column are replaced with the converted values
* The *colName* argument must reference an existing column, and may optionally be fully qualified (else the column is assumed to be in the default DSET)
* If any values in the column are not valid numbers, they will be treated as `0`
* Blank values are ignored
* The `convert` statement  may be used in the body of a `where` statement
* If a value in *colName* contains a partially correct value such as `123xyz` then it will be treated as a number up to the first invalid character, in this case resulting in a value of `123`.
* The hex digits in the original value can be either upper or lower case
* The hex digits from A-F will be rendered in upper case in the converted output
* The `convert` statement only supports integer values (floating points will be treated as floored to the nearest integer)

## Example

```
convert decimal_count from decimal to hex
convert unique_id from hexadecimal to dec
```