Help with string formula. 1

[goduke]

I have a string field that looks like the following values:

Otbf.Srvr.Emalf.-
Otbf.Srvr.Swcb.-
Otbf.Srvr.Swcb.Abus1ss
Otbf.Srvr.Swcb.C
Acq.Tel.Tel.-

What I need is from the third period, over, taken off. So the above examples would be:

Otbf.Srvr.Emalf
Otbf.Srvr.Swcb
Otbf.Srvr.Swcb
Otbf.Srvr.Swcb
Acq.Tel.Tel

In the data, there is always a third period, and if there isnt anything after the period, then there is a dash, otherwise there is another word. No more than four words though. Any help would be great.

 

[Madawc]

You could use SPLIT to separate and restore. Also UBOUND to check how many elements, so you don't try processing a data item that does not exist.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK). Using Crystal 10 & 11.5 with Windows XP

 

[goduke]

Could you give me an example of the syntax?

 

[lbass]

Try this:

stringvar x := {table.string};
stringvar array y := split(x,".");
stringvar z := "";
numbervar i;
for i := 1 to 3 do(
z := z + y + "."
);
left(z,len(z)-1)

-LB

 

[goduke]

That works PERFECTLY!

Can you give me a quick breakdown of how it works?

 

[lbass]

The split breaks it into three components with no periods. Then the loop adds the components back together again followed by a period. Then the last line trims off the ending period.

-LB