Position function

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Position function

Format


Position(text;searchString;start;occurrence)

Parameters

text - any text expression or text field

searchString - any text expression or text field representing the set of characters you want to find.

start - any numeric expression, or field containing a number, representing the number of characters from the start of the text string at which to begin the search.

occurrence - any numeric expression or field containing a number, representing which instance of the text string you want to find. A negative occurrence value causes the scan to go in the opposite direction from start. A zero value for occurrence is invalid and returns a result of zero.

Data type returned

number

Description

Returns the starting position of the specified occurrence of searchString in text. If searchString isn't contained in text or if there was no specified occurrence, zero is returned. The Position function is not case-sensitive.

Examples

Position("Mississippi";"iss";1;1) returns 2.

Position("Mississippi";"iss";1;2) returns 5.

Position("Mississippi";"iss";3;1) returns 5.

Left(Name;Position(Name;" ";1;1)-1) returns William, when Name is a text field that contains William Smith.

Right(Name;Length(Name) - Position(Name;" ";Length(Name);-1)) returns Smith.

Related topics

Functions reference (category list)

Functions reference (alphabetical list)

About formulas

About functions

Defining calculation fields

Using operators in formulas

Contents > Functions reference (alphabetical list) > Text functions > Position function