Limiting the amount of text returned for a column within a select 1

[ShawnMolloy]

Hello,

How can I limit the amount of characters that comes back in a SQL query from a column with a value type of TEXT?

For example, if this column contains a blog entry that is 17,000 chars long I want to show just the first 400 characters.

Thanks,

-- shawn

Shawn Molloy
Seattle, WA

 

[PHV]

SELECT SUBSTRING(blog_entry FROM 1 FOR 400) AS LimitedText

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[ShawnMolloy]

You rock PHV. Thanks again!

Shawn Molloy
Seattle, WA

 

[ShawnMolloy]

I'm getting a error at FROM on the first line from this query:

select a.datePosted, a.title, substring(A.body FROM 1 FOR 400) AS blogEntry, b.blogname
from blog_post
inner join blog b on a.blogid=b.blogid

Shawn Molloy
Seattle, WA

 

[Golom]

PHV gave you ANSI SQL which is what this forum is. If you are using SQL Server then

select a.datePosted, a.title, substring(A.body,1,400) AS blogEntry, b.blogname 
from blog_post
inner join blog b on a.blogid=b.blogid

and if it's Access

select a.datePosted, a.title, Mid(A.body,1,400) AS blogEntry, b.blogname 
from blog_post
inner join blog b on a.blogid=b.blogid

 

[ShawnMolloy]

Ah ok I thougth the FROM/FOR syntax looked kind of strange. I'll post in MS SQL fourm next time

Thanks.

Shawn Molloy
Seattle, WA