How can I parse a character field by ;

FOCUS does not seem to like
LAST_NAME/A30 = GETTOK(NAME, 30, -1, ';', 30, LAST_NAME);

These are possible values for the character field NAME

N/A;N/A
FIRST_NAME;N/A
N/A;LAST_NAME
FIRST_NAME;LAST_NAME

I need to divide the NAME field to FIRST_NAME and LAST_NAME field where FIRST_NAME and LAST_NAME field does not contain 'N/A' or ';'

Any help achieving this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You in advance.

Sayed,

I get no problems with this -

FILEDEF NAMEMAS DISK NAMETAB.MAS
FILEDEF NAMETAB DISK NAMETAB.TXT
-RUN

-WRITE NAMEMAS FILE=NAMETAB,SUFFIX=FIX
-WRITE NAMEMAS SEGNAME=SEG1
-WRITE NAMEMAS FIELD=NAME_DATA,,A80,A80,$

-WRITE NAMETAB N/A;N/A
-WRITE NAMETAB FIRST_NAME;N/A
-WRITE NAMETAB N/A;LAST_NAME
-WRITE NAMETAB FIRST_NAME;LAST_NAME
-RUN

TABLE FILE NAMETAB
PRINT *
      COMPUTE LAST_NAME/A30 = GETTOK(NAME_DATA, 30, -1, ';', 30, LAST_NAME);
END
-RUN

What error message are you getting? Is the format of your field variable (AnnV)?

T

quote:

COMPUTE LAST_NAME/A30 = GETTOK(NAME_DATA, 30, -1, ';', 30, LAST_NAME);

Thanks Tony! Clear mistake of DEFINE vs. COMPUTE. I was trying trying to do this on DEFINE.

Sayed

No mistake between DEFINE and COMPUTE.

If an expression works in COMPUTE, it will work in DEFINE and vice versa.

Sayed,

Are you saying that once you put it into a compute it worked?

As Alan states, there should be no problem with either. Did you have a semi-colon missing on the previous line in your define?

This is why it is important to state the error number (at least) and the message with this type of question.

T

Tony,

This creation of a Master file on the fly is brill! Never thought of doing this - opens up new possibilities.

Thanks.

Francis,

I do it a lot of the time when I need a particular master for a McGyver type technique or trying to help folks using their data.

T

OK I think I see the problem.
This is what I was trying

DEFINE FILE USNOTES

TEAMUS/A51 = GETTOK(TEAM, 51, 1, ';', 51, TEAMUS);

END

TABLE FILE USNOTES
PRINT
TEAM
TEAMUS
END

It works fine when you run it but DevStudio GUI tool does not like semicolon on the DEFINE statement. You get a popup window saying "Semicolns are not allowed".