Subject Re: Replacing a substring From Ken Mayer <dbase@nospam.goldenstag.net> Date Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:53:23 -0700 Newsgroups dbase.getting-started On 7/23/2023 12:08 PM, Charlie wrote: > I am wondering how to change text like LI10000 TO LH0000? > > I have tried this: > USE MASTER.DBF > REPLACE substr(part_no,1,2) with "LH" for mfg = "LIONEL H O SCALE" > > But come back with error 'expecting with' The dBASE REPLACE command assumes you're replacing the full contents of the field, so there may be an issue there. I don't think you can do what you're trying that easily. I could be wrong (and I expect if I am, Mervyn will pop in with something). You might want to try the SQL UPDATE SET command, but am not sure it would work either, because local SQL wouldn't understand the SUBSTR() function. A test in the Command Window: ? cPart = "LI10000" cPart = "LI10000" ? stuff( cPart, 1,2, "LH" ) Returns: LH10000 Which is what I assume you need (a typo in your original message). However again, I don't think the REPLACE command can handle this. A suggestion: USE MASTER.DBF // might want to back up the data before trying this set filter to mfg="LIONEL H O SCALE" go top scan // loop through the filtered data     cPart = part_no // get value from the field     cPart2 = stuff( cPart, 1,2, "LH" ) // replace first two letters with "LH"     replace part_no with cPart2 // updated version endscan > Also the field part_no is indexed.  Will I need to re-index the table if I can get this done? The index should automatically update ... Ken -- *Ken Mayer* Ken's dBASE Page: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase The dUFLP: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/index.htm#duflp dBASE Books: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/Books/dBASEBooks.htm dBASE Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/Tutorial/00_Preface.htm dBASE Web Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/WebTutorial/00_Menu.htm dBASE DOS to Windows Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/DtoWTutorial/00_Menu.htm