Extract part of a text string before a specific character

[brainonastick]

Hi there,

 

I need to separate an address field into two parts based on the occurrence of a "/" character.  

 

e.g. Flat 1/3 Happy St needs to be separated so that the Flat 1 is in its own field and 3 Happy St does too.

 

There are ways of doing this with PHP but I can't find a way to do it with Filemaker calculations. 

[bruceR]

Have you looked at FileMaker text function help?

 

https://fmhelp.filemaker.com/fmphelp_13/en/html/func_ref3.33.78.html#1031324

[LaRetta]

Trim( GetValue ( Substitute ( text ; "/" ; ¶ ) ; 1 ) )

This will give you the first value.

 

Replace the last '1' with a 2 to retrieve the second.

Hey Bruce, I agree that it is good to study ALL functions but there are 45 text functions so it certainly doesn't hurt to provide a solution from which to learn, no? :-)

BrainOnAStick, you might wish to protect from a field with more than one front slash.  For instance, what if an address is 141 1/2 E. Main, for example.  Just be aware of the potential problem with it.

Edited June 24, 2014 by LaRetta

[bruceR]

BrainOnAStick has 148 posts and at this point would do well to learn to use FileMaker Help IMHO.

[LaRetta]

Well, 148 posts does not mean they should know everything.  There are many pieces to this business and for all you know, 100 of those posts had to do with iPad.  Have you looked?  No you haven't.  

 

At 148 posts, I know *I* wouldn't have known everything about every function.  And sometimes too, an answer can just escape us.  I choose to assist people and they can learn by seeing the functions in action solving their specific problems ... that is how I learned and it is how the lesson sticks.

 

Nothing wrong with reminding to read Help but it can come across as condescending.  How do YOU know they haven't read Help?  How many things are there to learn in FM?  I've been trying to learn it all for 12 years now and still fall short.  It would not be abnormal to have read Help and still not understand which function would work best to create a certain calculation.

 

We have different styles.  This forum is here so we can help people.  You help as you wish and I'll help as I wish.

 

ps - when I first started in FM, I DID read the entire Help.  It didn't give me all the answers and I still had to ask questions.

Edited June 24, 2014 by LaRetta

[LaRetta]

BrainOnAStick, it would be good if you would update your profile with your FM and OS versions and your self-estimated skill level.  :-)

[brainonastick]

Hi guys,

 

I know I haven't posted 148 problems so not sure how that number gets worked out. I did read the Filemaker Help section but couldn't find a function that worked - as it turns out its 3 functions in tandem that do the trick (many thanks to LaRetta). Also on a personal note, I tend to spend far too long trying to figure things out for myself and end up either not being able to solve the problem on my own or come up with a cumbersome solution - so I usually don't post on here unless Im really desperate. But Im on a deadline and Im also recovering from the flu (its Winter here in Sydney) so needed some quick answers. Sorry if Ive been using the forums too much. Thanks again to all who have helped me recently.

[LaRetta]

The 148 posts is how many times you've posted plus any responses you've made so it is a post count and not a thread (question) count.

 

You are welcome to post at any time and there are many folks on this forum who are willing to help you.  I wait too long before asking for help also. 

[Lee Smith]

Hi guys,

 

I know I haven't posted 148 problems so not sure how that number gets worked out.

That number is a combination of Your topics, and all Replies, to your own or anyone else’s topic. You have been a member since 2004, so I would expected that many or more posts in that time span. If you have been involved with FMForums for that long, then you should have seen a bunch of threads on parsing.

 

If you are going to be a developer then you owe it to yourself to learn the capacity of the Functions and Scripts, etc.

 

There are some simple videos available for free on how to use some of the Functions such as Right, Left, RightWords, LeftWords, Substitute, Case, If, etc.

 

Here is a series of some of these provided for free by Skeleton Key Here

Edited June 24, 2014 by Lee Smith
Some wording to make it clearer

[LaRetta]

Hey BrainOnAStick, first ... can we call you by a name?  Anyway, this thread is about your needs and I truly hope we turn back to solving your problem instead of us fussing like two hens.

 

Edited:  I removed a paragraph pertaining to several posts which were deleted.  Without those posts, my opening paragraph didn't make sense.

Edited June 24, 2014 by LaRetta

[brainonastick]

There are some simple videos available for free on how to use some of the Functions such as Right, Left, RightWords, LeftWords, Substitute, Case, If, etc.

I already know all of the functions that you mentioned above but will look at the videos. Thanks.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Lee Smith
removed the unnecessary words in quote

[Lee Smith]

If you already know the functions, then it will probably be a waste of time.

 

What was the results of the calculation supplied by LaRetta?

[brainonastick]

it worked to separate street numbers from street names

[Lee Smith]

So, you got the answer you needed? or is there more?

 

BTW, please do not be cryptic with your request or replies.  As you see, it left me with questions.