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expression function - substring [2016/09/14 18:19]
expression function - substring [2016/09/14 18:19] (current)
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 +====== Substring (Expression Function) ======
  
 +===== Purpose =====
 +The **Substring** function (SUBSTRING) is used obtian a certain portion of a string by defining the starting character (by its index within the larger string) and the length of the desired string. ​
 +
 +{{::​substring_initial.png?​direct&​600|}}
 +
 +===== Parameters =====
 +The **Substring** function has three parameters, two of which are required:
 +
 +==== Value ====
 +
 +Allowed Inputs: [[Field|field]] value or text string
 +
 +The first required parameter is the string that the substring will be extracted from. Either use the use the [[Query Builder]] to choose a field that contains the value or use type a value to enter a text string. While it is technically possible to use a text string with this function it is not recommended.
 +
 +==== Start Position ====
 +
 +Allowed Inputs: [[Field|field]] value or a number
 +
 +The second required parameter of the **Substring** function is the index of the character starting from the left side of the string. ​ The 0 index is the first character of a string. ​ Negative numbers are also allowed. ​ When a negative number is used as the start position the substring will start from the right of the string. The -1 index is the last character of a string.
 +
 +==== Length ====
 +
 +Allowed Inputs: [[Field|field]] value or a number
 +
 +The third parameter, which is optional, it is the length of the substring to be extracted. ​ If this parameter is omitted then the substring will continue from left to right to the end of the string. ​ Negative numbers are also allowed. ​ When a negative number is used as the length then the substring will continue up to that index from the right side of the string. A length of -1 would continue to but not include the last character of a string.
 +
 +===== Output =====
 +
 +The output of the **Substitute** function is a string representing part of the initial string.
 +
 +===== Example =====
 +
 +Several common uses for this function are pulling the first character from a string, pulling all but the last character from a string, or truncating a string to a fixed length. ​ To pull the first character from a string the function SUBSTRING("​This is a Test!",​0,​1) will result in "​T"​. ​ To pull all but the last character from a string the function SUBSTRING("​This is a Test!",​0,​-1) will result in "This is a Test"​. ​ To make sure that a string is always 5 characters long starting from the left then SUBSTRING("​This is a Test!",​ 0, 5) will result in "This ".
expression function - substring.txt ยท Last modified: 2016/09/14 18:19 (external edit)
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