Using PatIndex 1

[ElJayWilson]

I have tried using PatIndex in a query, but can't seem to get a grasp on it. What I am trying to do is generate a string that contains the first initial and then the last name from a field that contains the full name formatted like this:

WILSON,LARRY JAY

What I want to wind up with is L. WILSON

The comma will be consistently the next character after the last name and the first name will be consistently right after that.

Thanks,

LJ

 

[RiverGuy]

Here's an example:

DECLARE @Val VARCHAR(100)
SELECT @Val = 'WILSON,LARRY JAY'
SELECT RIGHT(LEFT(@Val, CHARINDEX(',', @Val, 1) + 1), 1) + '. ' + LEFT(@Val, CHARINDEX(',', @Val, 1) -1)

 

[ElJayWilson]

Works like a charm!!! Plus I can see what I need to be doing now .

Thanks RiverGuy!