String Extract

[heyalmo]

Crystal 7.0.1.100
Oracle 8.0.5.0.0

How can I extract the first word in a string? Where the word is of variable length.

Is there a function which will allow me to extract the text value from the first text character until the first space in a string?

 

[lovalles]

On Crystal you can make a formula for the text you want to extract the letter.
use the Left funtion like this
Left(name,1)
You will get the fist letter of the field name. if name='Jon' then formula value will be J

 

[heyalmo]

lovalles:
Where the word is of variable length.

 

[idle]

This will give a substring from the field beginning to the first space.
{fieldname}[1 to InStr({fieldname},' ')]

 

[heyalmo]

Idle,
{ITEMMAST.DESCRIPTION}[1 to InStr({ITEMMAST.DESCRIPTION}," &quot]

The above produces the following error:
"The subscript must be between 1 and the length of the string."

 

[heyalmo]

fyi-
Here is how I was able to accomplish the task noted in the first post in this string.

Two Formula Fields were created.

1) ABBREV VALUE= InStr ({ITEMMAST.DESCRIPTION},' ')
2) ABBREV= Left ({ITEMMAST.DESCRIPTION},{@ABBREV VALUE} )

thanks for the assistance....

 

[olichap]

You could also do it this way:

left("this is", instr(1, "This is", " &quot)

I can't remember if Crystal syntax supports it exactly like this, but if you change it to Basic it should work for you.

Oliver