Type Conversion Rules for Arithmetic Operators

This topic provides a complete overview of type conversion rules for the arithmetic operators.

Unary Arithmetic Operators

The unary arithmetic operators in C/AL are prefix operators with the following syntax.

	Copy Code
PrefixExpression = PrefixOperator Expression

The following table shows the data types for which the unary operators in C/AL are defined, and the resulting data types.

Unary operator	Option	Integer	Decimal
+	integer	integer	decimal
-	integer	integer	decimal

Binary Arithmetic Operators

The following table shows the data types for which the binary arithmetic operators are defined. The binary arithmetic operators in C/AL are all infix operators.

	Copy Code
InfixExpression = LeftExpression InfixOperator RightExpression

Operator	Boolean	Byte	Char	Option	Integer	Decimal	Date	Time	Text	Code
+	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
-	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
*	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
/	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
DIV	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
MOD	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No

In the table, Yes means that the operator can take at least one operand (left, right, or both) of the given type; No means that the operator cannot be used with the given type.

The following table defines the valid uses of the binary arithmetic operators, and the resulting data types.

Definition of Type Conversion Rules for the "+" Operator

The "+" operator	Byte/Char	Option	Integer	Decimal	Text	Code
Boolean
Byte/Char	Integer	Integer (C)	Integer (C)	Decimal (C)
Option	Integer	Integer (C)	Integer (C)	Decimal (C)
Integer	Integer (C)	Integer (C)	Integer (C)	Decimal (C)
Decimal	Decimal (C)	Decimal (C)	Decimal (C)	Decimal (C)
Date	Date (A) (C)	Date (A) (C)	Date (A) (C)	Date (A) (C) (D)
Time	Time(B) (C)	Time(B) (C)	Time(B) (C)	Time(B) (C) (D)
Text					Text	Text
Code					Text	Code

(A) The operation is not defined for the Date 0D.

(B) The operation is not defined for the Time 0T.

(D) The operation is not defined if the Decimal has a fractional part.

Operator	Boolean	Byte	Char	Option	Integer	Decimal	Date	Time	Text	Code
+	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
-	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
*	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
/	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
DIV	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
MOD	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No

Operator	Boolean	Byte	Char	Option	Integer	Decimal	Date	Time	Text	Code
+	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
-	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
*	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
/	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
DIV	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
MOD	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No

Operator	Boolean	Byte	Char	Option	Integer	Decimal	Date	Time	Text	Code
+	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
-	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
*	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
/	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
DIV	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
MOD	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No