Grabbing characters from a string

Hello

I want to write a stored procedure (using Enterprise Manager) that can grab
the digits that are inbetween the two dashes (-) in strings like:
123-150-40
1-123-8
32-4215-61

The digits to the left, right and inbetween the dashes could be any length,
so a static "get the 5th, 6th and 7th digit" stored procedure won't work.

Many thanks,

--
Chris Michael
www.INTOmobiles.com
Download 100s of ringtones, wallpapers & logos every month for only 1.50
per weekChris Michael (news@.intomobiles.com) writes:
> I want to write a stored procedure (using Enterprise Manager) that can
> grab the digits that are inbetween the two dashes (-) in strings like:
> 123-150-40
> 1-123-8
> 32-4215-61
> The digits to the left, right and inbetween the dashes could be any
> length, so a static "get the 5th, 6th and 7th digit" stored procedure
> won't work.

And you want the result to be? Do you want:

12315040
11238
32421561

That is, one single number formed? That would be easy with help of
the replace() function.

Or do you want triplets like:

123, 150, 40
1, 123, 8
32, 4215, 61

And in such case, is there always exactly two dashes, or can you have

123-3455-2345-23345-2349-2-23

If you always have two dashes, using a combination of substring(),
patindex(), reverse(), right() and left() might do the trick.

All functions I have mentioned here, are listed in Books Online under
Functions, String Functions.

--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel@.sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server SP3 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techin.../2000/books.asp