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Status Under review
Workspace Db2 for z/OS
Created by Guest
Created on Nov 22, 2024

New Function UNHEX

New Function UNHEX (name subject to change/negotiation)

We have a system where all CHAR columns are defined FOR BIT DATA.  It seemed genius at the time to save a few bytes of data, not realizing the negative impact in future maintainability and in particular off-platform development.

I am positive many shops that have columns defined as CHAR FOR BIT DATA would greatly appreciate this function if they don't already have their own.

CREATE FUNCTION UNHEX(IN VARCHAR(32000) FOR BIT DATA)
RETURNS VARCHAR(32000) 
LANGUAGE SQL
CONTAINS SQL
DETERMINISTIC NO EXTERNAL ACTION
BEGIN
 RETURN IN;
END#

 

Sample query with the function

SELECT 
SUBSTR(UNHEX(CONTRACT_ID), 5, 3)
      ,UNHEX(CONTRACT_ID)
      ,CONTRACT_ID
 FROM TABLE
LIMIT 3;

 

Usable and readable output.

 1   2            CONTRACT_ID
--- ------------ --------------------------
C00 AABBC0012345 0xc1c1c2c2c3f0f0f1f2f3f4f5
C00 AABBC0012345 0xc1c1c2c2c3f0f0f1f2f3f4f5
C00 AABBC0012345 0xc1c1c2c2c3f0f0f1f2f3f4f5

 

Needed By Not sure -- Just thought it was cool