$FUNCNAME$
   FT_SQZN()
$CATEGORY$
   Conversion
$ONELINER$
   Compress a numeric value into a character string
$SYNTAX$
   FT_SQZN( <nValue> [, <nSize> [, <nDecimals> ] ] ) --> cCompressed
$ARGUMENTS$
   nValue       - The numeric value to be compressed
   nSize        - Optional size of numeric field, defaults to 10
   nDecimals    - Optional number of decimal places, defaults to 0
$RETURNS$
   cCompressed  - Compressed string, 50% the size of nSize
$DESCRIPTION$

  The FT_SQZN function allows a numeric value to be compressed when
  stored in the database.  The compression is 50% the storage space
  of the original number.  The companion function, FT_UNSQZN returns
  the original number from the compressed string.

$EXAMPLES$

replace TRANS->cust_id with FT_SQZN(mcust_id,8),;
	TRANS->amount  with FT_SQZN(mamount,12,2)

$SEEALSO$
    FT_UNSQZN()
$INCLUDE$

$Author: itk $
   Joseph D. Booth, Sr.
$END$

$FUNCNAME$
   FT_UNSQZN()
$CATEGORY$
   Conversion
$ONELINER$
   Uncompress a numeric compressed by FT_SQZN()
$SYNTAX$
   FT_UNSQZN( <cCompressed>, <nSize> [, <nDecimals> ] ) --> nValue
$ARGUMENTS$
   <cCompressed>  - Compressed string, obtained from FT_SQZN()

   <nSize>        - Size of numeric field

   <nDecimals>    - Optional number of decimal places
$RETURNS$
   nValue       - Uncompressed numeric value
$DESCRIPTION$

  The FT_UNSQZN function returns the numeric value from the compressed
  string.  The compression is 50% the storage space of the original
  number.  The original number must have been compressed using the
  FT_SQZN() function.

  This function, along with FT_SQZN() can be used to reduce disk storage
  requirements for numeric fields in a database file.

$EXAMPLES$

  mcust_id := FT_UNSQZN(TRANS->cust_id,8),;
  mamount  := FT_UNSQZN(TRANS->amount,12,2)

$SEEALSO$
  FT_SQZN()
$INCLUDE$

$Author: itk $
   Joseph D. Booth, Sr.
$END$
