Left
Purpose 
Returns numberOfCharacters in text, counting from the left.
Format 
Left(text;numberOfCharacters)
Parameters 
text - any text expression or text field
numberOfCharacters - any numeric expression or field containing a number
Data type returned 
text
Originated in 
FileMaker Pro 6.0 or earlier
Examples 
Left(“Manufacturing”;4) returns Manu.
Left(Name;Position(Name;“ “;1;1)) returns Sophie, when the Name field contains Sophie Tang.
Left(PostalCode;3) & Upper(Left(LastName;4)) returns 481JOHN when the PostalCode field contains 48187 and LastName contains Johnson.
Related topics 
Functions reference (category list)
Functions reference (alphabetical list)
About formulas
About functions
Defining calculation fields
Using operators in formulas
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