Converting string to numerical data - regardless of errors

Hi, I'm trying to take user inputted string data in Informix 4GL and use parts of it in an integer variable. Unfortunately, if the user does not enter a number in the area that I take my data out of the string from, trying to assign it to the variable crashes the program. I really, really don't want to turn on error trapping for the program - does anyone know of any way to check if specific data is numerical or text or a way to convert any text to a form that is handleable by an integer variable (such as turning all text into 0's or even their ascii codes would be acceptable)? I appreciate your time. ======================================== ======================================= Michael D. Kastler | Systems/Network Administrator | my views != my company's views Kestnbaum & Company | 55 W. Wacker, Suite 1210 | Chicago, IL 60601 | ======================================== =======================================