Left()

Category: Text

Syntax: Left ( text; numberOfCharacters )


Parameters:

textAny expression that resolves to a text string.

numberOfCharactersAny expression that resolves to a positive integer.

Data type returned: Text

Description:

Returns a string containing the first n characters from the specified text string, where n is the number specified in the numberOfCharacters parameter. If the string is shorter than numberOfCharacters, the entire string is returned. If numberOfCharacters is less than 1, an empty string is returned.

The Left() function is commonly used in text parsing routines to extract portions of a text string. It is often used in conjunction with other text functions. For example, to extract the City portion of a field (called "CSZ") containing "City, State Zip" data, you could use the following formula:

 Let (commaPosition = Position (CSZ; ","; 1; 1); Left (CSZ;
 commaPosition - 1))


Examples:

Function

Results

Left ("Hello"; 2)

Returns He.

Left (FirstName; 1)

Returns the first character of the FirstName field.




: FileMaker Specifications

FileMaker 8 Product Line

Specifications and Storage Limits

Field Types and Import/Export Formats

: Calculation Functions

Working with Calculations Primer

Calculation Signatures

Calculation Functions

: Custom Functions

Custom Functions Primer

Useful Custom Functions

: Script Steps

Scripting Primer

Script Step Reference

: Quick Reference

FileMaker Error Codes

FileMaker Keyboard Shortcuts

FileMaker Network Ports

FileMaker Server Command Line Reference

FileMaker XML Reference

: Other Resources

Where to Go for More Information



FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference
FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference
ISBN: 0789735113
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 352

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