Looking for a Number

[CurtR]

I made it almost an entire month without asking for help!
Here is what I have Crystal Ver 7.
My data is a text file that is pulling in as one field. I need to break Account Number,
Name, Address, and then Usage from this " field". This is for water consumption ( gallons used)
Here is some of what I have for data:

CUSTOMER # NAME PREMISE ADDRESS METER # MULT AVER AGE USE SE RVICE 01-0120.300 STERLING PROP ERTI ES 36 WEST AVE 105 80 14 23.75 NO SERV ICE AREA

I have the one done the Customer #, because it is always in the same place. So using this formula works:

left(right ({FAIRPORT WATER 2001.FIELD1},63),11)
Then suppressing anything that does not contain a "-".

From there the Name could be of any length, and the address there for could appear anywhere.
Due to all the spaces in the wrong places in the data, I will have to "build the name"
from pieces , looking for those spaces .

What I amlooking for, is a way to locate the first number of the address.
I need to get 36 West Ave , out this mess.
Is there a way to use the Instr function with the numric text function?

Thanks Curt

 

[reportguru]

What you are trying to do is convert an ASCII file to a database file. I recommend that you check out another program, Data Junction.

http://www.datajunction.com

It is a very easy to use, inexpensive utility that has macros built in to do exactly what you are trying to do. The output will be a database file (xbase, access, etc. your choice) that you can then use with Crystal to create your report. Using Crystal to do this is like trying to drive across the US in a 1960 VW bug. It can be done, but it sure is a pain.

Use Crystal for what it was intended for, to create information out of data.

 

[CurtR]

Thanks, I downloaded the program, and it will come in handy around here, but, I am affraid not for this file. It is not delimited by anything, kind of a flat file. Crystal is pulling what we need. I just do not know how to tell it to find the first instance of numeric text.
Thanks
Curt