Entering content frame

SUBSTR(x,a,b) Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

SUBSTR(x,a,b) is a string function that outputs part of the character string x (string specification of length n). Only expressions that have an alphanumeric value as a result are allowed as string specification x. LONG values are permitted. a and b are expressions.

 

Result of the SUBSTR(x,a,b) Function

SUBSTR(x,a,b)

Part of the character string x that starts at the ath character and is b characters long.

SUBSTR(x,a)

SUBSTR(x,a,n-a+1) supplies all of the characters in the character string x from the ath character to the last (nth) character.

b is an unsigned integer

SUBSTR(x,a,b)

b can also have a value that is greater than (n-a+1).

b is not an unsigned integer

SUBSTR(x,a,b)

b must not be greater than (n-a+1).

b>(n-a+1)

SUBSTR(x,a)

As many blanks (code attribute ASCII, UNICODE) or binary zeros (code attribute BYTE) are appended to the end of this result as are needed to give the result the length b.

x, a, or b is a NULL value

NULL value

 

Example

SELECT SUBSTR (firstname,1,1)&'. '&name name, zip
  FROM customer
    WHERE firstname IS NOT NULL

The SUBSTR function is used to reduce the first name to one letter, add a period and a blank, and then concatenate it with the name.

NAME

ZIP

J. Porter

10580

P. Brown

48226

R. Brian

75243

M. Griffith

20005

M. Randolph

60615

S. Smith

75243

M. Jackson

45211

R. Doe

97213

G. Howe

75243

F. Miller

95054

S. Baker

90018

J. Peters

92714

A. Jenkins

20903

 

 

Leaving content frame