Question

String Function in Interbase

Asked by: talkel2000

Hello,

Does interbase has string functions?
Looking for something like :

select left (myvar,10)
or
select substring(myvar,2,5)

Thanks a lot,
Tanya.

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Asked On
2006-03-07 at 15:42:24ID21764626
Tags

interbase

,

string

,

substring

,

functions

Topic

Interbase / Firebird Database

Participating Experts
3
Points
150
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: NickUpsonPosted on 2006-03-08 at 02:20:32ID: 16131558

substring depends upon the version you are using, left is not installed 'out of the box' but available in several udf libraries

 

by: hobbit72Posted on 2006-03-08 at 23:19:29ID: 16142161

the correct way to use substring is
select substring( field from 1 for 3) from table

some of the native SQL commands are TRIM UPPER

the UDF's (see the ib_udf.sql file in your server installation directory) are:
LTRIM RTRIM SRIGHT STRLEN SUBSTR SUBSTRLEN
there are lots of others you can download and install

http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=interbase+udf+free&meta=


 

by: phuocnhPosted on 2006-05-17 at 23:36:22ID: 16706241

I think you shouldn't use udf because it is not convinient when you setup your application or deliver to your customer.
You should use store procedure. You can search on the Internet some pieces of free code.
I show you some here:
/*IM_SUBSTR(nlen,start_at,src):Get substring of src, nlen is length of substring, start_at is place where you want to start extract the substring*/
CREATE PROCEDURE IM_SUBSTR (
NLEN INTEGER,
START_AT INTEGER,
SRC VARCHAR(255))
RETURNS (
RESULT VARCHAR(15))
AS
DECLARE VARIABLE PFX VARCHAR(255) CHARACTER SET UNICODE_FSS;
DECLARE VARIABLE C CHAR(1) CHARACTER SET UNICODE_FSS;
DECLARE VARIABLE VGL VARCHAR(255) CHARACTER SET UNICODE_FSS;
DECLARE VARIABLE II INTEGER;

BEGIN

/* Version : 1 */
/* Author: LUC, 08.01.2003*/
/* Description: */


IF ( START_AT <= 0 ) THEN START_AT = 1;
IF ( START_AT > 255 ) THEN START_AT = 255;

IF ( NLEN > 255 ) THEN NLEN = 255;
IF ( NLEN < 1 OR NLEN IS NULL ) THEN NLEN = 1;

VGL = '';
RESULT = '';
PFX = '';

IF ( START_AT > 1 ) THEN
BEGIN
II = 1;
WHILE ( II < START_AT ) DO
BEGIN
PFX = PFX || '_';
II = II + 1;
END
END

II = START_AT;
WHILE ( II < NLEN + START_AT ) DO
BEGIN
/* WHAT DOES THE STRING LOOK LIKE AT THE CURRENT POSITION, I.E. QUERY THE CURRENT CHARACTER */
C = ' ';

IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || ' %' ) THEN C = ' ';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'A%' ) THEN C = 'A';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'B%' ) THEN C = 'B';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'C%' ) THEN C = 'C';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'D%' ) THEN C = 'D';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'E%' ) THEN C = 'E';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'F%' ) THEN C = 'F';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'G%' ) THEN C = 'G';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'H%' ) THEN C = 'H';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'I%' ) THEN C = 'I';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'J%' ) THEN C = 'J';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'K%' ) THEN C = 'K';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'L%' ) THEN C = 'L';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'M%' ) THEN C = 'M';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'N%' ) THEN C = 'N';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'O%' ) THEN C = 'O';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'P%' ) THEN C = 'P';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Q%' ) THEN C = 'Q';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'R%' ) THEN C = 'R';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'S%' ) THEN C = 'S';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'T%' ) THEN C = 'T';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'U%' ) THEN C = 'U';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'V%' ) THEN C = 'V';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'W%' ) THEN C = 'W';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'X%' ) THEN C = 'X';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Y%' ) THEN C = 'Y';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Z%' ) THEN C = 'Z';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'a%' ) THEN C = 'a';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'b%' ) THEN C = 'b';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'c%' ) THEN C = 'c';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'd%' ) THEN C = 'd';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'e%' ) THEN C = 'e';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'f%' ) THEN C = 'f';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'g%' ) THEN C = 'g';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'h%' ) THEN C = 'h';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'i%' ) THEN C = 'i';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'j%' ) THEN C = 'j';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'k%' ) THEN C = 'k';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'l%' ) THEN C = 'l';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'm%' ) THEN C = 'm';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'n%' ) THEN C = 'n';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'o%' ) THEN C = 'o';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'p%' ) THEN C = 'p';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'q%' ) THEN C = 'q';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'r%' ) THEN C = 'r';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 's%' ) THEN C = 's';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 't%' ) THEN C = 't';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'u%' ) THEN C = 'u';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'v%' ) THEN C = 'v';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'w%' ) THEN C = 'w';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'x%' ) THEN C = 'x';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'y%' ) THEN C = 'y';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'z%' ) THEN C = 'z';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '0%' ) THEN C = '0';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '1%' ) THEN C = '1';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '2%' ) THEN C = '2';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '3%' ) THEN C = '3';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '4%' ) THEN C = '4';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '5%' ) THEN C = '5';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '6%' ) THEN C = '6';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '7%' ) THEN C = '7';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '8%' ) THEN C = '8';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '9%' ) THEN C = '9';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ä%' ) THEN C = 'ä';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ö%' ) THEN C = 'ö';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ü%' ) THEN C = 'ü';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ä%' ) THEN C = 'Ä';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ö%' ) THEN C = 'Ö';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ü%' ) THEN C = 'Ü';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ß%' ) THEN C = 'ß';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '!%' ) THEN C = '!';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '"%' ) THEN C = '"';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '§%' ) THEN C = '§';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '$%' ) THEN C = '$';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '&%' ) THEN C = '&';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '/%' ) THEN C = '/';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '(%' ) THEN C = '(';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || ')%' ) THEN C = ')';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '=%' ) THEN C = '=';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '@%' ) THEN C = '@';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '+%' ) THEN C = '+';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '*%' ) THEN C = '*';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '~%' ) THEN C = '~';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '#%' ) THEN C = '#';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '''%' ) THEN C = '''';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '-%' ) THEN C = '-';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Á%' ) THEN C = 'Á';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'É%' ) THEN C = 'É';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Í%' ) THEN C = 'Í';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ó%' ) THEN C = 'Ó';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ú%' ) THEN C = 'Ú';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'á%' ) THEN C = 'á';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'é%' ) THEN C = 'é';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'í%' ) THEN C = 'í';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ó%' ) THEN C = 'ó';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ú%' ) THEN C = 'ú';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'À%' ) THEN C = 'À';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'È%' ) THEN C = 'È';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ì%' ) THEN C = 'Ì';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ò%' ) THEN C = 'Ò';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ù%' ) THEN C = 'Ù';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'à%' ) THEN C = 'à';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'è%' ) THEN C = 'è';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ì%' ) THEN C = 'ì';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ò%' ) THEN C = 'ò';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ù%' ) THEN C = 'ù';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Â%' ) THEN C = 'Â';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ê%' ) THEN C = 'Ê';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Î%' ) THEN C = 'Î';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Ô%' ) THEN C = 'Ô';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'Û%' ) THEN C = 'Û';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'â%' ) THEN C = 'â';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ê%' ) THEN C = 'ê';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'î%' ) THEN C = 'î';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'ô%' ) THEN C = 'ô';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || 'û%' ) THEN C = 'û';

ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '{%' ) THEN C = '{';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '}%' ) THEN C = '}';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || '[%' ) THEN C = '[';
ELSE IF ( SRC LIKE PFX || ']%' ) THEN C = ']';

RESULT = RESULT || :C;

PFX = PFX || '_';
II = II + 1;
IF ( II > 255 ) THEN
BEGIN
SUSPEND;
EXIT;
END
END
SUSPEND;
END
And now the IM_AC_POS(string) fuction: get the first position '@'  appear in string:
CREATE PROCEDURE IM_AC_POS (
ENTITYID VARCHAR(255))
RETURNS (
POS INTEGER)
AS
DECLARE VARIABLE TEMP VARCHAR(255) CHARACTER SET UNICODE_FSS;
begin
Pos = 0;
TEMP='@%';
WHILE (ENTITYID NOT LIKE TEMP) DO
BEGIN
TEMP = '_' || TEMP;
Pos = Pos + 1;
END
suspend;
end
I think I help you a liitle bit.
Phuoc H, Nguyen

 

by: phuocnhPosted on 2006-05-26 at 00:58:14ID: 16767263

Hi kacor!
I think you should split the point for all participants
Phuoc H. Nguyen

 

by: hobbit72Posted on 2006-05-26 at 01:19:35ID: 16767357

phuocnh, if I may ask, why did you suggest using a complex stored proc instead of the natively supported command SUBSTRING?
I may have missed something, but it doesn't seem logical.

Regards
Gary

 

by: phuocnhPosted on 2006-05-26 at 01:57:15ID: 16767495

SUBSTRING lacks in old version of FB/IB.
If you check again, there isn't any substring function in IB version 6.0 or FB version 1.0.x
And
Substring now(1.5) has syntax:
substring(col from index1 (for index2))
How do you want to achive:
substring(inputstring,from,length)?
here is an example from Lucas Franzen:
(For those of you who may be wondering what on earth 'Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän' is, it is the German word for "Donau Steam Navigation Company Captain"!).
Call:
SELECT RESULT FROM substring(inputstring,from,length):
E.g.: SELECT RESULT FROM SUBSTRING ( 'Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän', 1, 10 )
 --> Donaudampf
E.g.: SELECT RESULT FROM SUBSTRING( 'Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän', 35, 8 )
 --> kapitän
Phuoc H. Nguyen

 

by: talkel2000Posted on 2006-05-26 at 22:13:22ID: 16774206

As i see everyone waiting for me now...
Since i waited so long :) i figured out a way around with python

NickUpson was correct: we are using v6.  of IB and it doesn't have substring function.

Regard sproc proposed by Phuoc H. Nguyen .. I tried to execute sproc suggested and got:
 Dynamic SQL Error
SQL error code = -104
Token unknown - line 17, char 1
DECLARE

Unfortunately  i'm not familiar with sprocs in Interbase (i do in sql) and we don't use sprocs in Interbase, so i need to figure out why i  have same succces executing 'Declare' as i have with Substring.


Wil work on your "paycheck" in next few min.
Cross fingers!

 

by: talkel2000Posted on 2006-05-26 at 22:30:45ID: 16774246

i appreciate all your comments and  splitted points.

Have a great weekend,
Tnaya

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