what is the meaning of this formula?

[robercr12]

hi,

I have a report developed by a previous developer - can you tell me what it means?

if isnull({view.field 1) or {view.field 1}=" "
then left({view.field 2}, 10) else {view.field 1}

what does this mean?? ---> left({view.field 2}, 10)

especially
left ?
and
,10

Thanks
bob

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,
[tt]
if {view.field 1} is null or {view.field 1} equals SPACE
if isnull({view.field 1) or {view.field 1}=" "

then return the left 10 characters of {view.field 1}
else return {view.field 1}
then left({view.field 2}, 10) else {view.field 1}
[/tt]

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
I am sure SkipVought meant

then return the left 10 characters of {view.field 2 }









To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[SkipVought]

Ahhh, Turkbear: Great mindreader!

SkipVought: Great intentions. Terrible results!

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[robercr12]

The previous reporting guy made a mistake he should have used

then return the left 10 characters of {view.field 1 }

Thanks Guys -- i just had to make sure i understood it correctly

Regards
bob

 

[SkipVought]

The previous reporting guy made a mistake he should have used

then return the left 10 characters of {view.field [red]1[/red] }

So who's the swamie now??? ;-)

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[lbass]

No, the original formula is correct, referencing left(field2,10). If the field1 is null or = " " then the left function becomes irrelevant for field1.

-LB

 

[robercr12]

Lbass,

what do you mean by left function ?

so you are saying that the following assessment of the formula is incorrect?

if {view.field 1} is null or {view.field 1} equals SPACE
if isnull({view.field 1) or {view.field 1}=" "

then return the left 10 characters of {view.field 1}
else return {view.field 1}
then left({view.field 2}, 10) else {view.field 1}

 

[SkipVought]

What he's saying is that if {view.field 1} is null or just has a SPACE, then WHY would you return ANYTHING from {view.field 1}??

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[lbass]

if isnull({view.field 1) or
{view.field 1}=" " then
left({view.field 2}, 10) else
{view.field 1}

This (correct) formula says that if field1 is null or holds only a space, then show the 10 first (left) characters of field2; otherwise, show field1.

-LB