>Hi everybody,
>
>I have this method
>
>

>internal void GetDCIComponents(String tcDCI, out String department, out String category, out String item)
>      {
>         department = tcDCI.Substring(0, 10);
>         category = tcDCI.Substring(10, 10);
>         item = tcDCI.Substring(20, 10);
>      }

>
>The problem is with the last assignment when I pass item less than 10 characters. What is the best way to "simulate" VFP substring to get up to the length of the item?
>
>Thanks in advance.

Try this as an extension method:

public static string SafeSubstring(this string originalValue, int startIndex, int length)
{
	string retVal = string.Empty;

	if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(originalValue))
	{
		if (startIndex >= originalValue.Length)
			startIndex = originalValue.Length - 1;

		if (startIndex < 0)
			startIndex = 0;

		if (startIndex + length > originalValue.Length)
			length = originalValue.Length - startIndex;

		if (0 <= startIndex && startIndex < originalValue.Length && length > 0)
			retVal = originalValue.Substring(startIndex, length);
	}
	
	return retVal;
}