Problem with function, need to return a very large number

Question

I have a function that is used to derive a number by using a defined algorithm. We have tested it many times in our 'development' region and it works. We moved it to our 'UAT' region and now the function is giving an error. The data is the same in both oracle instances. So.... dba's are telling me it is the function. At this point, I don't know what to do.
Can I declare "RESULT" in a function so that it can return a number this big: 2.00023880306E24?
Oracle returns -6502 error in the deriveNewNum function.
Here is the error:
*** ERROR in deriveNewNum.fnc
SQLCODE: -6502
ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: number precision too large
BEGIN TF1ID; END;
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-06503: PL/SQL: Function returned without value
ORA-06512: at DERIVENEWNUM", line 93
ORA-06512: at line 1

Answer 1

Hi,
Did you look up that error in the error messages manual?
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b28278/e4100.htm#sthref1889
Is there something there that you didn't understand?
<h3>ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value errorstring </h3>
Cause: An arithmetic, numeric, string, conversion, or constraint error occurred. For example, this error occurs if an attempt is made to assign the value NULL to a variable declared NOT NULL, or if an attempt is made to assign an integer larger than 99 to a variable declared NUMBER(2).
Action: Change the data, how it is manipulated, or how it is declared so that values do not violate constraints.
If you declare variables like this:
x     NUMBER;
y     NUMBER (20, 10);there woul be no problem assigning a value like 2E24 to x, but there would be if you tried it with y.
How are your varaibles declared.
Whenever you have a problem with your code, post your code.
Always say what version of Oracle you're using.