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Character function
Solution No. 136
This action either alters or provides information on a specified value and stores the outcome in an Action Result Variable that can be used in subsequent actions. For example, you may want to join two values together such as “First Name” and “Last Name”, or you may want to find out whether a value is numeric.

 
So where would we use it?
Using the Character Function action really depends on what you are attempting to do. Consider for a moment that you're entering information for a new customer and you just finished with the first and last name in two separate fields. Now you want to have this information in one single field, containing the full name with the last name followed by the first name, separated by a comma (for example, "Smith, John A.). This is easy to do using one of the options in the Character Function actions.
 
Properties 

To set the properties for this action, follow these steps:

1. Select Character Function from the Action dropdown list.
2. Select the Value from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In – Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
  •  Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
  •  Value From Calendar – Sets the value from a specified calendar.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 3, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 5; otherwise select Value from the dropdown list to the right.
4. Select the action to perform from the dropdown list. Find and follow the directions for the specific action you wish to use below.
 
Find Character – Returns the position of the first occurrence of a specified character value in a string. Note: the first character in the string has a value of 0. If the desired character does not exist, -1 will be returned.
1. Select Find Character.
2. Enter a character in the Find Character field.
3. Enter Action Result name.
4. Enter Internal note (Optional).
5. Click Save & Close.
 
Get Left – Returns all characters of a specified string value, searching forward up to a specified position in a string.
1. Select Get Left.
2. Select Value from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a specified numeric value the user enters manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the numeric value and proceed to Step 5; otherwise, select Value from the dropdown list below.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Get node value from XML - Returns the value of a known XML node in an XML document.  
  • For example, if you have an XML document <xml><customers><customer><name>The Hulk</name></customer></customers></xml>, you specified the XML node of "/xml/customers/customer/name", the returned value would be "The Hulk".
  • If the XML is invalid, an error message is returned.
  • If the node is not found, "Node not found" is returned. 
Get Length - Returns the number of characters in a string.
1. Select Get Length from the Action dropdown list.
2. Enter Action Result name.
3. Enter Internal note (Optional).
4. Click Save & Close to save changes and close the action properties window; otherwise, click Cancel to close the window without saving.
 
Get Right - Returns all characters of a specified string value, searching backwards up to a specified position in a string.
1. Select Get Right.
2. Select Value from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a specified numeric value the user enters manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the numeric value and proceed to Step 5; otherwise, select Value from the dropdown list to the right.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Join – Joins two selected values together and assigns the new value as an action result.
1. Select Join.
2. Select Join to condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
  •  Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Join with comma – Joins two selected values together (separated by comma) and assigns the new value as an action result.
1. Select Join with comma.
2. Select Join to condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
 Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
 Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
 Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
 Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
 Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Join with line break - Joins two selected values together (separated by line break) and assigns the new value to an action result.
1. Select Join with line break.
2. Select Join to condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value that the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
  •  Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Join with space - Joins two selected values together (separated by a space) and assigns the new value to an action result.
1. Select Join with space.
2. Select Join to condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
  •  Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Join with tab - Joins two selected values together (separated by tab) and assigns the new value to an action result.
1. Select Join with tab.
2. Select Join to condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
  •  Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Join with two line breaks - Joins two selected values (separated by two line breaks) and assigns the new value to an action result.
1. Select Join with two line breaks.
2. Select Join to condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
  •  Value From Row – Sets the condition to a value from a specified row.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Replace <> fields– This action allows you to customize an email or template on an individual basis. It converts database terms such as customer.name into the name of the individual it is meant for, very useful when dealing with mass email or templates.
1. Select Replace <> fields.
2. Select Replace from table from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2,enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Select Locate using RecordID from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
5. If you selected Type In for Step 4, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 6; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
6. Enter Action Result name.
7. Enter Internal note (Optional).
8. Click Save & Close.
 
Replace Characters - Replaces specified characters from the selected value with new, user-defined characters, and assigns the new value to an action result. Note this is case sensitive.
1. Select Replace Characters.
2. Select the value you would like to Replace characters for.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Select Replace with from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
 Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
 Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
 Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
 Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
5. If you selected Type In for Step 4, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 6; otherwise select a Value from the dropdown list.
6. Enter Action Result name.
7. Enter Internal note (Optional).
8. Click Save & Close.

Yes/No: contains? - Returns True if the value contains the value being queried; otherwise, returns FALSE. The outcome is assigned to an action result. Note: this is case sensitive.
1. Select Yes/No: contains.
2. Select Yes/No contains?, conditions from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2,enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Yes/No: starts with? – Returns TRUE if the value starts with the value being queried; otherwise, returns FALSE. The outcome is assigned to an action result. Not case sensitive.
1. Select Yes/No: starts with?.
2. Select Yes/No starts with? conditions from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value that the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2,enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Yes/No: ends with? - Returns TRUE if the value ends with the value being queried; otherwise, returns FALSE. The outcome is assigned to an action result.
1. Select Yes/No: ends with? from the Action dropdown list.
2. Select Yes/No ends with? conditions from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close to save changes and close the action properties window; otherwise, click Cancel to close the window without saving.
 
Yes/No: is numeric? - Returns TRUE if the value is numeric; otherwise, returns FALSE. The outcome is assigned to an action result.
1. Select Yes/No: is numeric?.
2. Enter Action Result name.
3. Enter Internal note (Optional).
4. Click Save & Close.
 
Yes/No: equals? - Returns TRUE if the value is equal to the value being queried; otherwise, returns FALSE. The outcome is assigned to an action result.
1. Select Yes/No: equals?.
2. Select Yes/No equals? conditions from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Seek next in selection list – Based on a specified value, returns the next value from a selection list.
1. Select Seek next in selection.
2. Select Current Value conditions from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.
 
Seek previous in selection list – Based on a specified value, returns the previous value from a selection list.
1. Select Seek previous in selection list.
2. Select Current Value conditions from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
  •  Type In - Sets the condition to a value the user types in manually.
  •  Action Result – Sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
  •  Value From Screen – Sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
  •  Value From Session – Sets the condition to a value that results from the current session information.
3. If you selected Type In for Step 2, enter the predefined value and proceed to Step 4; otherwise, select a Value from the dropdown list.
4. Enter Action Result name.
5. Enter Internal note (Optional).
6. Click Save & Close.

 

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Created bySaudia A. on Oct-18-2011
Last modified onSep-17-2015