how to show part of a field?

[Mr Jahnfree]

I have a web page with messages.
I want to show the list of the messages only with part of them, for example
the first 30 letters/characters.
Now I use this string:

<%response.write rs("msg") %>

and it shows obviously the whole field (msg)

Which could be the right syntax?
Thanks,
Gianfranco

[Roland Hall]

"Mr Jahnfree":
: I have a web page with messages.
: I want to show the list of the messages only with part of them, for
example
: the first 30 letters/characters.
: Now I use this string:
:
: <%response.write rs("msg") %>
:
: and it shows obviously the whole field (msg)

<% Response.Write left(rs("msg"),30) %>
or
<%= left(rs("msg"),30) %>

--
Roland Hall
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[John Scragg]

You can also try to truncate the result set before it is even returned from the database. Assuming you are not using the full message text on the same page as you are displaying the summary, this could save some unnecessary data transfer. You could modify your SQL as follows

SELECT LEFT(msg, 30) As msg FROM tblMessage

If you use both a summary and the full text on the same page, it is better to use the VBScript function to truncate the message. But if not, letting the database truncate it for you should perform better and reduce the amount of data sent accross the network

Good luck

Joh