>thanks viv - sometimes you just have to learn to think like a computer
>k
>
>>>sorry a quicky question here.
>>>I have been persuing help and can't seem to find reference for this
>>>how do i check the character length within a field length
>>>
>>>lname is a field 30 characters
>>>the name 'smith' is 5 characters
>>>i am trying to get 5 as the response.
>>>

>>>? len(Lname)  &&& give me the length of the field not the contents.
>>>

>>

len(trim(lname))

?

There is this:
len(lname) ...which will give you the number of characters.

If you do this:
len(alltrim(lname)) it excludes the beginning and ending spaces...so..

lname = "me "

len(lname) = 3
len(alltrim(lname)) = 2

...works the same if the spaces are at the front too...so

lname = " me "
len(lname) = 4
len(alltrim(lname)) = 2