---
schema_version: "1"
id: 3f2194d9508867474bc7b373d4a3ab863027a5538f30a6e591d090b290935eb0
title: "Text to Number Transformation: Convert the Column Type"
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/data/264-0-0/c360_a_batch_transform_transformation_dimensiontomeasure.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_batch_transform_transformation_dimensiontomeasure.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: c4db8dec86e2f568df92138a214e8cc89ffc243dc5336faca6e635f565254e9e
description: To perform a mathematical calculation on the column, such as calculating the average, use the Text To Number transformation to change the Text column type to Number. You can perform mathematical calculations on numeric columns only. Numeric types include the percent data type.
products:
  - Data 360
release: "264"
---
# Text to Number Transformation: Convert the Column Type

To perform a mathematical calculation on the column, such as calculating the average, use the Text To Number transformation to change the Text column type to Number. You can perform mathematical calculations on numeric columns only. Numeric types include the percent data type.

During the column type conversion, the Dimension to Measure transformation rounds decimals to the nearest whole number. For example, 300.2939 becomes 300.

1. In the Transform node, select the dimension column that you want to convert to the Measure column type.
2. In the Transform toolbar, select **Dimension to** | **Measure**.
    
    ![The To Date modal provides options to specify the date format.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-data-data_cloud-264-0-0-production-enus/f3569962-3c9b-4f83-9d0c-b6a574e785da/resources-global/analytics/images/bi_integrate_dim2mea_settings.png)
3. Under Show Results In, select whether the new values appear in a new column and whether to keep the original column.
4. If you elect to create a column, set the label under Column Label.
5. To change more column attributes, click the **Column Attributes** box, change them, and click **Apply**.
    
    ![The Column Attributes box shows the API Name, Output Type, Precision, and Scale for the resulting measure column.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-data-data_cloud-264-0-0-production-enus/f3569962-3c9b-4f83-9d0c-b6a574e785da/resources-global/analytics/images/bi_integrate_dim2mea_moreSettings.png)
6. Based on the output column’s data type, you can set these attributes.
    
    <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
            <colgroup>
              <col style="width:17.064846416382252%">
              <col style="width:82.93515358361775%">
            </colgroup>
            <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
              <tr class="">
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d57994e68">Attribute</th>
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d57994e70">Description</th>
              </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Attribute" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e68 ">API Name</td>
                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e70 ">The API name of the column. The column API name can each be up to 255 characters.
                  The API name must also be unique within the batch data transform.</td>
              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Attribute" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e68 ">Precision</td>
                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e70 ">
                  <p>The maximum number of digits in a numeric column. Includes all numbers to the left and
                    to the right of the decimal point (but excludes the decimal point character). Enter an
                    integer from 1 through 18, inclusive.</p>
                  <p style="margin-bottom:0;">If a numeric value exceeds the specified precision, the value is set to 0 or null,
                    depending on whether null measure handling is enabled. For example, if precision is set
                    to 5 and null measure handling is enabled, the numeric value 123456.78 is replaced with
                    null.</p>
                </td>
              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Attribute" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e68 ">Scale</td>
                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e70 ">The number of digits to the right of the decimal point in a numeric column. Enter an
                  integer from 0 through 17, inclusive. The scale must be less than the precision. For
                  example, if the numeric value is 123456.789 and you set the scale to 2, the number appears
                  as 123456.78.</td>
              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Attribute" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e68 ">Length</td>
                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e70 ">The maximum number of characters in a text column. Enter an integer from 1 through
                  32000, inclusive. The default length is 255 characters.</td>
              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Attribute" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e68 ">Date Format</td>
                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d57994e70 "> The date format of a date column.</td>
              </tr>
            </tbody>
          </table>For more guidelines, see Field Name Restrictions in [Analytics External Data Format Developer Guide: External Data Metadata Format Reference](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.bi_dev_guide_ext_data_format.meta/bi_dev_guide_ext_data_format/bi_ext_data_schema_reference.htm).
7. To add the transformation to the Transform node, click **Apply**. The Preview tab shows the measure column.
8. To view the canvas area, click the **Collapse** button (![Collapse button](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-data-data_cloud-264-0-0-production-enus/f3569962-3c9b-4f83-9d0c-b6a574e785da/resources-global/analytics/images/bi_button_collapse.png)).

Run the data transform to convert the column type to measure.