This document provides an overview and examples of string functions in Microsoft Access queries. It discusses functions like Left, Right, Mid, Len, Trim, Replace, Asc, Chr and more. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use each function in an Access query and return the results. The document is a training material for a class on Access query design and string functions.

1. AIN102S
Access Query Design
Samples Module – String Functions
P.O. Box 6142
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607
949-489-1472
http://www.d2associates.com
slides.1@dhdursoassociates.com

2. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module2
AIN102S Contact Information
P.O. Box 6142
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607
949-489-1472
http://www.d2associates.com
slides.1@dhdursoassociates.com
Copyright 2001-20011 All rights reserved.

3. AIN102S Notes
 This material was prepared by Mindfire
Solutions for Orange Coast Database
Associates, Inc. Reproduction for commercial
purposes is prohibited.
 Classes covering this material are available
either in San Juan Capistrano, California, or
at your facility.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module3

4. AIN102S Resources
 Sample database with all queries can be
downloaded at box.net.
 Manuals can be downloaded from
SlideShare at the link below.
 Slides can be viewed on SlideShare…
http://www.slideshare.net/OCDatabases
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module4

5. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module5
AIN102 Sequence
 Session 1 – Review of Relational Databases and
Single Table Retrieval, Functions and Operators
 Session 2 – Multi-table retrieval, Sub queries,
Unions, Action Queries, Indexes
Additional Modules – Sample Date
(AIN102D) and String Functions
(AIN102S)

6. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module6
AIN102S
 Lecture/discussion with demonstrations
– Mostly practical, but a dose of “theory”
 Assumes familiarity with MS Access and
creating basic queries.
 Hands-on
 Exercises (Mostly cumulative)
 3 hours in length

7. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module7
Microsoft Access Query Design
 Focus of this class will be on the Query
Designer, with SQL used from time-to-time to
explain concepts
 Knowledge of query design is an essential
skill for retrieving and manipulating Microsoft
Access data.
 A foundation skill for eBusiness and almost
all major business applications that use
relational databases

8. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module8
Access Query Design and SQL
 The SQL engine Access uses is called JET
 It support both MS Access and Visual Basic
 Looking “behind the scenes” at your queries
in SQL can be helpful and we will do this;
however SQL is not necessary except for
UNION queries

9. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module9
Relational Database Basics
 Storage
 Databases
 Tables
 Rows
 Columns
 Indexes
 Views
 SQL interface

10. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module10
Storage
 In Access one file with extension accdb
(2007 and 2010 databases) or mdb (2003
and earlier). I.e mydatabase.mdb.
 Database splitter can be used to split it into
two parts – a front end and a back end.
 Interface to physical storage via the “JET”
database engine. This is the behind-the
scenes-workhorse.

11. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module11
Databases
 In the Access world refers to all objects
stored in the mdb.
– Tables
– Queries
– From
– Reports
– Macros
– Code modules

12. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module12
Relational Database Table

13. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module13
Sample Access Database

14. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module14
Database Relationships

15. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module15
Approaching Query Design
 Try to build queries a step at a time
 Save existing queries that are working
as you like; modify them with a new
name when building a modified query
 Try looking at the generated SQL code
from time-to-time

16. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module16
Sample Database
 Before we continue…
 Load the sample database if you haven’t
already

17. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module17
Query Designer
Right click anywhere
for SQL View
Double click or drag
to add a field
Double click to add a
table

18. Admissions18
String Functions
 The String functions include
– Asc()
– Chr()
– InStr()
– Left()
– Mid()
– Right()
– InStrReverse()
Admissions18 AIN102S Strings Module

19. Admissions19
String Functions (Cont’d)
 The String functions include
– LCase()
– UCase()
– LTrim()
– RTrim()
– Space()
– Etc.
Admissions19 AIN102S Strings Module

20. LCase(), UCase()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module20
LCase: Returns a string that has been
converted to lowercase.
UCase: Returns a string that has been
converted to uppercase.
Syntax: LCase(String), UCase(string)
- String: Any valid string expression.

21. LCase(), UCase()
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySapmle_LCase_UCase.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Select Descr.
 Build: LCase(Diagnostics.Descr) as [Lower
Case], UCase(Diagnostics.Descr) as [Upper
Case] . Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module21

22. LCase(), UCase()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module22

23. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module23
Upper Case
Lower Case

24. Left()
 Returns a Variant (String) containing a specified
number of characters from the left side of a string.
 Syntax: Left(string, length)
- string: String expression from which the leftmost
characters are returned.
- length: numeric expression indicating how many
characters to return. If 0, a zero-length string ("") is
returned. If greater than or equal to the number of
characters in string, the entire string is returned.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module24

25. Right()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module25
 Returns a Variant (String) containing a specified
number of characters from the right side of a string.
 Syntax: Right(string, length)
- string: String expression from which the leftmost
characters are returned.
- length: numeric expression indicating how many
characters to return. If 0, a zero-length string ("") is
returned. If greater than or equal to the number of
characters in string, the entire string is returned.

26. Mid()
 Returns a Variant (String) containing a specified
number of characters from a string.
 Syntax: Mid(string, start[, length])
- string: String expression from which characters are
returned.
- start: Character position in string at which the part
to be taken begins. If start is greater than the
number of characters in string, Mid returns a zero-
length string ("").
- length(Optional): Number of characters to return.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module26

27. Left(), Right() and Mid()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module27
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_Left_Right_Mid1.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Select Descr.
 Build: Left(Diagnostics.Descr,3) as [Left],
Right( Diagnostics.Descr,3) as [Right],
Mid(Diagnostics. Descr,2) as [Mid]. Save.

28. Left(), Right() and Mid()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module28

29. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module29
3 From Left 3 From Right
All From
2nd
position

30. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module30
Left(), Right() and Mid()
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_Left_Right_Mid1.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Select Descr.
 Build: Left(Diagnostics.Descr,3) as [Left],
Right( Diagnostics.Descr,3) as [Right],
Mid(Diagnostics. Descr,2,2) as [Mid] . Save.

31. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module31
2 From
2nd
position

32. Len()
 Returns a Long containing the number of characters
in a string.
 Syntax: Len(string)
- string: Any valid string expression.
 Create a sample query and save as qrySample_Len.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Select Descr.
 Build: Descr,Len(Diagnostics.Descr) as [Length] .
Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module32

33. Len()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module33

34. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module34
Length of
Description

35. LTrim(),RTrim(), Trim()
 Returns a Variant (String) containing a copy of a specified string
without leading spaces (LTrim), trailing spaces (RTrim), or both
leading and trailing spaces (Trim).
 Syntax: LTrim(string), RTrim(string), Trim(string)
 Create a sample query and save as qrySample_Trim.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Select Descr, and type DISTINCT " " & Diagnostics.Descr & " "
as [Space Added].
 Build: Len([Space Added]) as [Length],Len( LTrim([Space
Added])) as [LTrim],Len( RTrim([Space Added])) as
[RTrim],Len(Trim([Space Added])) as [Trim]. Save.
 This will reflect the length after trimming.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module35

36. LTrim(),RTrim(), Trim()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module36

37. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module
37
One space
added at left
and 2 space
in right
Length after
space added
Length after
Left trim
Length after
Right trim
Length after
Trim

38. StrReverse()
 Returns a string in which the character order of a
specified string is reversed.
 Syntax: StrReverse(expression)
- expression: The expression argument is the string
whose characters are to be reversed.
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_StrReverse.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: strReverse(Diagnostics.Descr) as [Reversed
String] . Save.
 This will reflect the length after trimming.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module38

39. StrReverse()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module39

40. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module40
Reverse
String

41. InStr()
 Returns a Variant (Long) specifying the position of the
first occurrence of one string within another.
 Syntax: InStr([start, ]string1, string2[, compare])
- start(Optional): Numeric expression that sets the
starting position for each search. If omitted, search
begins at the first character position.
- string1: String expression being searched.
- string2: String expression sought.
- compare(Optional): Specifies the type of String
expression .
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module41

42. InStrRev()
 Returns the position of an occurrence of one string within
another, from the end of string.
 Syntax: InstrRev(stringcheck, stringmatch[, start[,
compare]])
- stringcheck: String expression being searched.
- stringmatch: String expression being searched for.
- start(optional): Numeric expression that sets the starting
position for each search.
- compare(Optional): Numeric value indicating the kind of
comparison to use when evaluating substrings. If omitted,
a binary comparison is performed.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module42

43. InStr() and InStrRev()
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_InStr_InStrRev.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: InStr(Diagnostics.Descr, "C") as [InStr For
"C"], InStr(Diagnostics.Descr, "e") as [InStr For
"e"], InStrRev (Diagnostics.Descr, "C") as
[InStrRev For "C"], InStrRev(Diagnostics.Descr,
"e") as [InStrRev For "e“] . Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module43

44. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module44
1stPosition of
“C” from left
1st
Position of
“C” from right
of reverse string
1stPosition of
“e” from left
1st
Position of
“e” from right
of reverse string

45. Replace()
 Returns a string in which a specified substring has been replaced
with another substring a specified number of times.
 Syntax: Replace(expression, find, replace[, start[, count[,
compare]]])
- expression: String expression containing substring to replace.
- find: Substring being searched for.
- replace: Replacement substring.
- start(Optional): Position within expression where substring search
is to begin.
- count(Optional): Number of substring substitutions to perform.
- compare(Optional): Numeric value indicating the kind of
comparison to use when evaluating substrings.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module45

46. Replace()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module46
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_Replace.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: Replace(Diagnostics.Descr, " ", "-") as
[Replace Space By "-“]. Save.
 This will replace a blank space with “-”.

47. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module47
Replace
Space by “-”

48. StrConv()
 Returns a Variant (String) converted as specified.
 Syntax: StrConv(string, conversion, LCID)
- string: String expression to be converted
- conversion: The sum of values specifying the type
of conversion to perform.
- LCID: The LocaleID
 The conversion argument settings are: 1-
vbUpperCase, 2- vbLowerCase, 3- vbLowerCase
etc.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module48

49. StrConv()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module49
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_StrConv.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: StrConv(Diagnostics.Descr, 1) as
[Convert Upper], StrConv(Diagnostics.Descr, 2)
as [Convert Lower] . Save.

50. StrConv()
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module50

51. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module51

52. StrComp()
 Returns a Variant (Integer) indicating the
result of a string expression.
 Syntax: StrComp(string1, string2[, compare])
- string1: Any valid string expression.
- string2: Any valid string expression.
- compare(Optional): Specifies the type of
string comparison.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module52

53. StrComp()
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_StrConv.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: StrReverse(Diagnostics.Descr) as [String
Reverse], StrComp(Diagnostics.Descr,
Diagnostics.Descr) as [StrComp Same String],
StrComp(Diagnostics.Descr, [String Reverse]) as
[StrComp Different String] . Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module53

54. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module54

55. Space()
 Returns a Variant (String) consisting of the
specified number of spaces.
 Syntax: Space(number)
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_Space.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: Diagnostics.DiagNo & Space(5) &
Diagnostics.Descr As [Five Space Between
Concat] .Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module55

56. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module56
5 Space Added
Between Concatenation

57. String()
 Returns a Variant (String) containing a
repeating character string of the length
specified.
 Syntax: String(number, character)
- number: Length of the returned string.
- character: Character code specifying the
character or string expression whose first
character is used to build the return string.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module57

58. String()
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_String.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: String(5,"d") As [String1],
String(3,"Luck") As [String2], String(5,"54")
As [String3] .Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module58

59. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module59
String(5,"d")
String(3,"Luck") String(5,"54")

60. Asc() and Chr()
 Asc(): Returns an integer representing the
character code corresponding to the first
letter in a string.
 Chr(): Returns a string containing the
character associated with the specified
character code.
 Syntax: Asc(string), Chr(charcode)
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module60

61. Asc() and Chr()
 Create a sample query and save as
qrySample_Asc_Chr.
 Add Diagnostics table.
 Build: Asc("A") As [ASCII of "A"], Asc("book") As
[ASCII of "b"], Chr(65) As [Return "A"], Chr(98)
As [Retrun "b“] .Save.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module61

62. Result
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module62
Asc("A") Asc("book") Chr(65) Chr(98)
[end module]

63. When you want to know more
 ½ day date functions workshop.
 1 day SQL200A Microsoft Access SQL
Class.
Admissions AIN102S Strings Module63

64. Admissions AIN102S Strings Module64
End Strings Module
End of Class!