Amazon Redshift will no longer support the creation of new Python UDFs starting Patch 198. Existing Python UDFs will continue to function until June 30, 2026. For more information, see the [ blog post ](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/big-data/amazon-redshift-python-user-defined-functions-will-reach-end-of-support-after-june-30-2026/).
# TEXT\$1TO\$1INT\$1ALT
TEXT\$1TO\$1INT\$1ALT converts a character string to an integer using Teradata-style formatting. Fraction digits in the result are truncated.
## Syntax
```
TEXT_TO_INT_ALT (expression [ , 'format'])
```
## Arguments
*expression*
An expression that results in one or more CHAR or VARCHAR values, such as a column name or literal string. Converting null values returns nulls. The function converts blank or empty strings to 0.
*format*
A string literal that defines the format of the input expression. For more information about the formatting characters you can specify, see [Teradata-style formatting characters for numeric data](r_Numeric-format-teradata.md).
## Return type
TEXT\$1TO\$1INT\$1ALT returns an INTEGER value.
The fractional portion of the cast result is truncated.
Amazon Redshift returns an error if the conversion to the *format* phrase that you specify isn't successful.
## Examples
The following example converts the input *expression* string '123-' to the integer -123.
```
select text_to_int_alt('123-');
```
```
text_to_int_alt
----------
-123
```
The following example converts the input *expression* string '2147483647\$1' to the integer 2147483647.
```
select text_to_int_alt('2147483647+');
```
```
text_to_int_alt
----------
2147483647
```
The following example converts the exponential input *expression* string '-123E-2' to the integer -1.
```
select text_to_int_alt('-123E-2');
```
```
text_to_int_alt
----------
-1
```
The following example converts the input *expression* string '2147483647\$1' to the integer 2147483647.
```
select text_to_int_alt('2147483647+');
```
```
text_to_int_alt
----------
2147483647
```
The following example converts the input *expression* string '123\$1' with the *format* phrase '999S' to the integer 1230. The S character indicates a Signed Zoned Decimal. For more information, see [Teradata-style formatting characters for numeric data](r_Numeric-format-teradata.md).
```
select text_to_int_alt('123{', '999S');
```
```
text_to_int_alt
----------
1230
```
The following example converts the input *expression* string 'USD123' with the *format* phrase 'C9(I)' to the integer 123. See [Teradata-style formatting characters for numeric data](r_Numeric-format-teradata.md).
```
select text_to_int_alt('USD123', 'C9(I)');
```
```
text_to_int_alt
----------
123
```
The following example specifies a table column as the input *expression*.
```
select text_to_int_alt(a), text_to_int_alt(b) from t_text2int order by 1;
```
```
text_to_int_alt | text_to_int_alt
-----------------+-----------------
-123 | -123
-123 | -123
123 | 123
123 | 123
```
Following is the table definition and the insert statement for this example.
```
create table t_text2int (a varchar(200), b char(200));
```
```
insert into t_text2int VALUES('123', '123'),('123.123', '123.123'), ('-123', '-123'), ('123-', '123-');
```