strip_phone_number

create or replace function strip_phone_number(
_in varchar
) returns varchar as $_$
DECLARE
_len integer;
_i integer;
_chr varchar;
_test varchar;
_result varchar;
BEGIN

select into _len length(_in);

_i := 0;
select into _result '';
while _i <= _len LOOP
_i := _i + 1;
select into _chr substring(_in from _i for 1);
select into _test substring(_chr from '[0-9]$');
--_test := _chr;
if (_test is not null) then
select into _result _result || _test;
end if;
raise debug '%:%:%:%', _i, _chr, _test, _result;
END LOOP;

return _result;
END;

$_$ language plpgsql;

(u will need to fix the tabs thing in msn pastes)
select strip_phone_number('(123) 456-8909 x 1234');
strip_phone_number
--------------------
12345689091234
(1 row)
so that dumps the "not digit" characters from a string in pl/pgsql
but what good does that do?
dont you need the ui to undo that?