Reference > Functions reference > Text functions > Left

Left

Returns the specified 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

Example 1

Left ( "Manufacturing" ; 4 ) returns Manu.

Example 2

Left ( Name ; Position ( Name ; " " ; 1 ; 1 ) - 1 ) returns Sophie, when the Name field contains Sophie Tang.

Example 3

Left ( PostalCode ; 3 ) & Upper ( Left ( LastName ; 4 ) ) returns 481JOHN when the PostalCode field contains 48187 and LastName contains Johnson.