FUNCTIONUnder review

Left

Left(cText,nCount) -> cPrefix

Extracts a string prefix.

LeftAdvPL

01 · OVERVIEW

Overview

nCount defines how many positions to copy from the left. If it exceeds length, the full string is returned; zero or negative returns empty. The example uses ASCII to avoid assuming Unicode-character counting in the environment encoding. (Sources: refs. 1–1.)

02 · SYNTAX

Syntax

Left(cText,nCount) -> cPrefix

Parameters

cText

CharacterRequired

Input text.

nCount

NumericRequired

Number of positions.

Return value

Prefix string or empty string.

03 · PRACTICAL EXAMPLE

Commented example

#Include "Protheus.ch"

User Function Ed505()
    // Explicit extraction bounds.
    ConOut(Left("ED0102",4))
    ConOut("["+Left("ED01",0)+"]")
Return Nil

Expected result

Displays ED01 and []. Under review: editorial example neither compiled nor run in Protheus. Check includes, release, RDD and context before testing.

BEST PRACTICES

Validate type and length before using a prefix as a key.
Under review: editorial example neither compiled nor run in Protheus. Check includes, release, RDD and context before testing.