# Text

> Returns the leftmost characters from a text field or expression result. The number of characters returned is indicated by the numeric field or expression specified by `LENGTH OF CHARACTERS`.

## `LEFT`

### Description

Returns the leftmost characters from a text field or expression result. The number of characters returned is indicated by the numeric field or expression specified by `LENGTH OF CHARACTERS`.

### Syntax

`LEFT <Text field or Expression> NUMBER OF CHARACTERS <Numeric field or expression>`

### Supported values

Only text values can be used for `LEFT`. Only numeric values can be used for `NUMBER OF CHARACTERS`

### NULL handling

If any of the inputs is `NULL`, the result is `NULL`.

### Example

`LEFT Case type NUMBER OF CHARACTERS 5`

## `RIGHT`

### Description

Returns the rightmost characters from a text field or expression result. The number of characters returned is indicated by the numeric field or expression specified by `LENGTH OF CHARACTERS`.

### Syntax

`RIGHT <Text field or Expression> NUMBER OF CHARACTERS <Numeric field or expression>`

### Supported values

Only text values can be used for `RIGHT`. Only numeric values can be used for `NUMBER OF CHARACTERS`

### NULL handling

If any of the inputs is `NULL`, the result is `NULL`.

### Example

`RIGHT Case type LENGTH OF CHARACTERS 5`

## `SUBSTRING`

### Description

Returns a part of the text field value or expression result. The number of characters to be returned is indicated by the numeric field value or expression result specified in `LENGTH OF CHARACTERS` and the start position is defined by `STARTING FROM CHARACTER`.

### Syntax

`SUBSTRING <Text field or Expression> NUMBER OF CHARACTERS <Numeric field or expression> STARTING FROM CHARACTER <Numeric field or Expression>`

### Supported values

Only text values can be used for `SUBSTRING`. Only numeric values can be used for `NUMBER OF CHARACTERS` and `STARTING FROM CHARACTER`.

### NULL handling

If any of the inputs is `NULL`, the result is `NULL`.

### Example

`SUBSTRING Phonenumber = "1-800-123-4567" NUMBER OF CHARACTERS 3 STARTING FROM CHARACTER 3` (Returns the 3-digit area code 800)

## `CONCAT`

### Description

Concatenates two or more text field values or expression results into one text value.

### Syntax

`CONCAT <Text field or Expression> + <Text field or Expression> [+ <Text field or Expression>]`

### Supported values

Only text values can be used.

### NULL handling

`NULL` values are not included in the result. For example `CONCAT('A', NULL, 'B')` returns `AB`.

### Example

`CONCAT (Purchase_Order_ID,'-',Purchase_order_item_ID` (creates a new CaseID by merging the Purchase_Order_ID and the Purchase-Order_Item ID.)

## `COALESCE`

### Description

Returns the first non-`NULL` value in a list of values defined by expressions, fields, or constants.

### Syntax

`COALESCE <Expression or Field or Constant> + <Expression or Field or Constant> [+ <Expression or Field or Constant>]`

### Supported values

All values can be used.

### NULL handling

If all values in the list are `NULL`, then the `COALESCE` function will return `NULL`.

### Example

`COALSCE (Purchase_order_ID, Invoice_ID)` (Returns the first non `NULL` value to check if there are Invoices created without a Purchase order.