### Left (str, length)

Basic and Crystal syntax.

##### Arguments

- str is a text string value.
- length is a whole number indicating the number of characters to be extracted from str.

##### Returns

Text String

##### Action

Extracts the specified number of characters from the left side of the string.

##### Typical uses

Use this function to obtain a certain number of characters from the left end of a text string. For instance, you could use the Left function to obtain just the area code from the values in a field containing phone numbers.

##### Examples

The following examples are applicable to Crystal syntax:

`Left("abcdefg", 4)`

Returns "abcd".

`Left({customer.FAX}, 3)`

Retrieves the area code of each fax number when the first three characters of the Fax field contains the area code.

##### Comments

This function is designed to work like the Visual Basic function of the same name.

Seagate Software, Inc. http://www.seagatesoftware.com Please send comments to: techpubs@seagatesoftware.com