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split field

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    split field

    I have 16,000 plus records. One field is "Name" and it is as follows; without the brackets: [Smith, John]. Some records have: [Smith, ], others [, John].
    I want to create two fields: first name and last name. Is there a way to split the name field into Fname and Lname?
    Jim [email protected]
    Jim Belanger

    #2
    Re: split field

    Hi Jim,
    An update operation should do it. If you use the genie, there is an option to break a field into its parts.
    Robin

    Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

    Comment


      #3
      Re: split field

      Bare with me. Does the Genie take the one field and create two new ones or do I have to create two new fields ahead of time and let the genie populate them?
      Jim Belanger

      Comment


        #4
        Re: split field

        Jim,
        Robin is right. You still have to do a little work
        create your 2 new fields First and Last
        Go to operations, new, update fields(at the bottom on the left), then choose the table.
        Int the left column, choose a field like "fname" and in cter column choose the expression button.
        Here you can use the built in funtions to sort for first name.
        Last name = next line
        Dave Mason
        [email protected]
        Skype is dave.mason46

        Comment


          #5
          Re: split field

          Thanks to both of you.
          1. I don't see a Genie.
          2. I added Lname and Fname for two new fields in the table.
          3. I went to operations and picked Update Field
          4. In left column, I selected Lname for field.
          5. In center column (expression) I went to function, searched for split names and got this expression
          set_ext_field_name_get(
          6. Then, I clicked on Help on Current Function, at the bottom but nothing happens.
          7. Not sure now if I want to select Field Name or Field Value to keep going.
          Jim Belanger

          Comment


            #6
            Re: split field

            Later versions are slightly different but if you choose the Operations tab of the control panel, New you should be presented a screen where you choose the operation type, the table, and see buttons for Create Using Genie and (simply) Create. If you press the Create using genie button you should see the selection for character fields to Break a field into its parts.


            updare.pngparts.png
            There can be only one.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: split field

              I no longer have V9 loaded but I am quite sure it, like V10, has a "Create Using Genie" button for creating a new Update operation. Assuming that is true, and assuming your name field data is as simple as you say it is, there are 2 genie options:
              1. Break a Name into its parts
              2. Break a Field into its parts

              Because Break a Name into its parts won't deal with ", John", you should use Break a Field into its parts, as this will deal with ", John". It will also deal with "Smith, Jane K" assuming "Jane K" would be okay for the first name field. If you don't want the "K" in there just create another (Genie created) update operation to remove what comes after the 1st word. Oh my, what to do if you have common first names such as Mary Ann or any number of other possibilities? If you have those, come back here and someone may help. And oh yes, if you have last names that are more than one word, fortunately for you the comma in the full name field is going to take care of those.

              Of course there are other ways of dealing with your situation, but given everything you state, using the Genie is clearly the way to go.

              Ray Lyons

              Comment


                #8
                Re: split field

                Hopefully Jim will check back and tell us if he sees the same screens that Stan showed above. I checked back to v8 and the Create Using Genie button is definitely there. But even without the genie, on the create update screen he could write the code he needs using a different function - like word().
                Robin

                Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: split field

                  OK
                  I'm getting closer. Don't know how I missed the Genie but I did find it now.
                  I ran the operation. First four records changed as follows.
                  Name was Belanger, Hercule. It entered Lname as Belanger and Fname as a blank.
                  Name was Belanger, Joseph Alfred W. It entered Lname as Belanger and Fname as Joseph.
                  Name was Belanger, Marguerite Jane. It entered Lname as Belanger and Fname as Marguerite.
                  Name was Belanger, Domithilde. It entered Lname as Belanger and Fname as a blank.

                  The Genie wrote the Fname operation as:
                  WORD(NAME,1))<>"REV".AND.W_COUNT(NAME)>1.AND.ATC(",",NAME)=0,WORD(NAME,1),IF(W_COUNT(NAME)<3.OR.((UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MR".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MRS".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MS".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MISS".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="DR".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="REV").AND.ATC(",",NAME)>0.AND.W_COUNT(NAME)=3),"",WORD(NAME,2)))

                  Lname operation as:
                  IIF(ATC(",",NAME)=0,WORD(NAME,-1),WORD(SUBSTR(NAME,1,(ATC(",",NAME)-1)),-1))
                  Jim Belanger

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: split field

                    Success!

                    I re read the instructions. Split a name did not work right. But, Split a field did. This has now been accomplished.

                    For those with patience for a 73 year old who is not a computer geek, can I ask for another piece of help for the same table???

                    I have three different character fields. Each is set up for a field length of 5 characters.
                    All the characters are actually numbers; no letters.
                    Field one is a day
                    Field tow is a month
                    Field three is a year

                    All year fields have a full four character number.
                    Day and month fields have a one or two character number.

                    Can I make it one date field? Or, do I live with it as is?
                    Jim Belanger

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: split field

                      Yes you can
                      create a date field and following the same procedures you did above. In the code area, it will be something like:
                      ctod(alltrim(Month)+"/"+alltrim(day)+"/"+alltrim(year))

                      ctod = character to date
                      Others may make it better for you.
                      Dave Mason
                      [email protected]
                      Skype is dave.mason46

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: split field

                        In the Update genie select the General tab and Assign a Calculated Value to a Field. Then select your new date field as the field you want to update and in the expression builder use Dave's expression substituting your actual field names.
                        Robin

                        Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: split field

                          So
                          I would reverse the calucation if I wanted Day/Month/Year?
                          ctod(alltrim(Day)+"/"+alltrim(Month)+"/"+alltrim(year))

                          Also, in my first quest to record first name and last name; that worked well EXCEPT, there was a space after the comma and before the first letter of the first name so all first names have a space in front of them. Can that be deleted?

                          I'll do what I can with the dates and let you know how I make out.
                          Jim Belanger

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: split field

                            Originally posted by Beltronics View Post
                            So
                            ....Also, in my first quest to record first name and last name; that worked well EXCEPT, there was a space after the comma and before the first letter of the first name so all first names have a space in front of them. Can that be deleted?
                            ....
                            Yes. In your case it would probably be best to use an Update operation with the Search and Replace option on the first name field and replace the space with nothing. This will create an expression: STRITRAN(FNAME," ","")

                            Ray Lyons

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: split field

                              Jim,
                              Now you have me curious

                              The Genie wrote the Fname operation as:
                              WORD(NAME,1))<>"REV".AND.W_COUNT(NAME)>1.AND.ATC(",",NAME)=0,WORD(NAME,1),IF(W_COUNT(NAME)<3.OR.((UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MR".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MRS".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MS".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="MISS".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="DR".OR.UT(WORD(NAME,1))="REV").AND.ATC(",",NAME)>0.AND.W_COUNT(NAME)=3),"",WORD(NAME,2)))
                              How did you get the genie to filter out these titles? And what will you do about the 'period' that most titles include?

                              I think you know more than you are letting on!
                              Robin

                              Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                              Comment

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