how can i break down a file name that i can get in a Variable1 the file name and in Variable2 the type?

Take a look at these customfunctions:

After:

http://www.fmcustomfunctions.com/functions_display_record.php?functionId=83

Before:

http://www.fmcustomfunctions.com/functions_display_record.php?functionId=84

Very vague on what you are trying to do.

Leftwords, Middlewords, and Rightwords (Maybe)

Post an example of the text involved.

Note: Show what you have now, and what you are wanting to Parse out of the existing text. Give use more than one example so that we can see what patterns are involved.

Lee

Before dot =

Left ( FileName ; Position ( FileName ; "." ; 1 ;  1 ) - 1 )

After dot =

Right ( FileName ; Length ( FileName ) - Position ( FileName ; "." ; 1 ;  1 ) )

Before dot =

Left ( FileName ; Position ( FileName ; "." ; 1 ;  1 ) - 1 )

After dot =

Right ( FileName ; Length ( FileName ) - Position ( FileName ; "." ; 1 ;  1 ) )

Could I use a similar calculation to break down a text field that contains text either side of " - " into two seperate fields? The text either side of the " - " can be multiple words.

Could I use a similar calculation to break down a text field that contains text either side of " - " into two seperate fields?

Sure - provided you adjust for the length of " - " in the second formula.

Another option is to substitute " - " with a carriage return, then use GetValue() to extract a single line.

Sure - provided you adjust for the length of " - " in the second formula.

Another option is to substitute " - " with a carriage return, then use GetValue() to extract a single line.

I'm having a little trouble understanding the required calculation. Obviously my calculation must differ from the OP's solution because I have multiple words either side of " - ". In the original solution above what do the multiple "1" values denote?

I have multiple words either side of " - ".

It doesn't matter. I suggest you read the help on the Position() function (at least).