Need to count # of chars in each field

Question

Post reply

Need to count # of chars in each field

kaththecoder

SSC Enthusiast

Points: 191
More actions
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.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply

Koen Verbeeck SSC Guru Points: 259105 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?

Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

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?

---------------------------------------------------------

It takes a minimal capacity for rational thought to see that the corporate 'free press' is a structurally irrational and biased, and extremely violent, system of elite propaganda.
David Edwards - Media lens[/url]

Society has varying and conflicting interests; what is called objectivity is the disguise of one of these interests - that of neutrality. But neutrality is a fiction in an unneutral world. There are victims, there are executioners, and there are bystanders... and the 'objectivity' of the bystander calls for inaction while other heads fall.
Howard Zinn

Koen Verbeeck SSC Guru Points: 259105 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).

Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

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.

Tally Tables - Performance Personified
String Splitting with True Performance
Best practices on how to ask questions

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?