Need to count # of chars in each field

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Need to count # of chars in each field

kaththecoder

SSC Enthusiast

Points: 191
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March 6, 2014 at 7:14 am

#286541

Hi
I need to write code so that I can get the number of chars in my field "heu_postmeta".
I wrote this...
SELECT LEN(`meta_value`) FROM `heu_postmeta`
Getting error "LEN" does not exist
Any help is appreciated.

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Koen Verbeeck SSC Guru Points: 259115 More actions · Answer 1

Try the following:

SELECT LEN(meta_value) FROM heu_postmeta

I assume meta_value is a column and heu_postmeta is a table?

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kaththecoder SSC Enthusiast Points: 191 More actions · Answer 2

Hi

I just ran the query and got the same error LEN does not exist

SELECT LEN(meta_value) FROM heu_postmeta

meta_value is the field name

heu_postmeta is the table

Abu Dina SSChampion Points: 14155 More actions · Answer 3

What database platform are you using? You sure it's SQL Server?

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Koen Verbeeck SSC Guru Points: 259115 More actions · Answer 4

You're using SQL Server, right?

I'm pretty sure it exists:

LEN

Is that your exact query? Maybe there is a syntax error somewhere (such as a missing bracket).

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CKX SSCrazy Points: 2519 More actions · Answer 5

kaththecoder (3/6/2014)
Hi
I just ran the query and got the same error LEN does not exist
SELECT LEN(meta_value) FROM heu_postmeta
meta_value is the field name
heu_postmeta is the table

LEN is a valid Sql Server Function and has been in the product for as long as I can remember.

Copy and paste the exact error you are receiving and of course make sure you are running it against a Sql Server Instance.

Ed Wagner SSC Guru Points: 287026 More actions · Answer 6

kaththecoder (3/6/2014)
I just ran the query and got the same error LEN does not exist
SELECT LEN(meta_value) FROM heu_postmeta

Like CK2 said, LEN is a function that's been there forever. I would make sure your query is running in the database that contains your table, then verify the name of your table and column. The weird thing is the error message. If the table didn't exist, the table would be called out as the source of the error, not the LEN function. Like Koen and Abu Dina asked, are you using SQL Server?

The function is documented at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190329%28v=sql.100%29.aspx.

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drew.king1 Old Hand Points: 336 More actions · Answer 7

SELECT LEN(CAST(meta_value AS NVARCHAR)) FROM heu_postmeta

I ran into an issue the other day where a field like meta_value was not a varchar/nvarchar/etc, and all I had to do was cast it make my modifications and reinsert it back in.

Ville-Pekka Vahteala SSCrazy Points: 2458 More actions · Answer 8

kaththecoder (3/6/2014)
Hi
I need to write code so that I can get the number of chars in my field "heu_postmeta".
I wrote this...
SELECT LEN(`meta_value`) FROM `heu_postmeta`
Getting error "LEN" does not exist
Any help is appreciated.

Code smells like MySQL. Are you using openquery?