I need to pick out some string from a string that varies in length. The end result is to pick out the id number, contained in brackets, from a string.
An example of the data is:
Jones (4) Smith (Deceased) (100)
The result from the above example would need to be:
4 100
Ideally I want a query that will find the start position of the last open bracket and pick up the data from that point onwards, because the id number, contained in brackets, is always at the end.
Unfortunately, REVERSE, CHARINDEX and PATINDEX are not available in OpenEdge SQL functions so I cannot use those.
REVERSE
CHARINDEX
PATINDEX
OpenEdge
INSTR(contact_data,'(',1,2) gives me the start point, but requires me to provide the nth occurrence - which is a variable because some data contains 1 bracket, some contain more.
INSTR(contact_data,'(',1,2)
I have tried to introduce a variable into occurrences, but it errors - please see below and please help if you can!
SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY(PROCLAIM,' SELECT a.contact_data, INSTR(a.contact_data,''('',1,a.bracket_occurrences) AS searching_for_start_point,SUBSTRING(a.contact_data,LOCATE(''('',a.contact_data,1)+1,LENGTH(a.contact_data)-LOCATE(''('',a.contact_data,1)-1) AS contact_id FROM( SELECT contact_data, CAST(LENGTH(contact_data) - LENGTH(REPLACE(contact_data,''('','''')) AS INT) AS bracket_occurrences FROM PUB.contacts ) AS a ')
My best stackoverflow answer:
select contact_data, rtrim( substring ( contact_data, greatest( instr( contact_data, '(', 1, 1 ), instr( contact_data, '(', 1, 2 ), instr( contact_data, '(', 1, 3 ) ) + 1 ), ')' ) from pub.contacts
Do you need to have this in SQL? In the good old ABL this would be almost trivial
DEFINE VARIABLE cString AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO.
cString = 'hello world (12) (23)'.
MESSAGE
ENTRY(1, ENTRY(NUM-ENTRIES(cString,'('), cString,'('), ')')
VIEW-AS ALERT-BOX INFORMATION BUTTONS OK.
Update from Progress Community seaside_escape I need to pick out some string from a string that varies in length. The end result is to pick out the id number, contained in brackets, from a string. An example of the data is: Jones (4) Smith (Deceased) (100) The result from the above example would need to be: 4 100 Ideally I want a query that will find the start position of the last open bracket and pick up the data from that point onwards, because the id number, contained in brackets, is always at the end. Unfortunately, REVERSE, CHARINDEX and PATINDEX are not available in OpenEdge SQL functions so I cannot use those. INSTR(contact_data,'(',1,2) gives me the start point, but requires me to provide the nth occurrence - which is a variable because some data contains 1 bracket, some contain more. I have tried to introduce a variable into occurrences, but it errors - please see below and please help if you can! SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY(PROCLAIM,' SELECT a.contact_data, INSTR(a.contact_data,''('',1,a.bracket_occurrences) AS searching_for_start_point,SUBSTRING(a.contact_data,LOCATE(''('',a.contact_data,1)+1,LENGTH(a.contact_data)-LOCATE(''('',a.contact_data,1)-1) AS contact_id FROM( SELECT contact_data, CAST(LENGTH(contact_data) - LENGTH(REPLACE(contact_data,''('','''')) AS INT) AS bracket_occurrences FROM PUB.contacts ) AS a ') View online You received this notification because you subscribed to the forum. To stop receiving updates from only this thread, go here. Flag this post as spam/abuse.
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Hi Stefan. Thank you for your answer here. It works really well. I'll probably add in a few more INSTR's to make sure I cover lots of possibilities. Amazing!!!