Very Urgent: Invalid number in database

Question

We are getting an invalid number error on a date field in a Form that has run this procedure for two years. The query is something like select max(upload_date) from pfe_time_report where ssn = :block_update.ssn. We think that an invalid number has been inserted into the database but we can't find out where. Has anyone run into this situation before? This is a crucial enterprise application (3000 people won't get paid w/o it!)
Thanks.

Answer 1

Jeremy:
I support a payroll app for 10000, I sympathize.
I think that your bad data is in either whatever table you get :block_update.ssn from , or in pfe_time_report.ssn
The invalid number error occurs when there is an implicit or explicit conversion from a string to a number, and the string contains alpha characters.
If pfe_time_report.ssn is defined as numeric, I would look at the block_update source which may be char or varchar.
Assuming that :block_update.ssn is VARCHAR2(10), you could use something like:
SELECT ROWID,identifying_columns
FROM block_update_source
WHERE RPAD(TRANSLATE(ssn,'1234567890','$$$$$$$$$$'),10,'$') <> '$$$$$$$$$$'This will change all valid numbers in :block_update.ssn to 10 $'s. Any non-numeric characters will remain as they were.
I hope everyone gets paid. Thanks for the advice. The table is pfe_time_report. SSN is a Varchar2(10) and upload_date is a date. The :block_update is based on this table. Would it be advisable to use the query you mentioned to update the table and correct any errors in these columns? I don't want to touch the query on the form because it is a client/server app and the customers are spread out all over the state of New Mexico.