Microsoft KB Archive/135796

= ODBC 2.0 Drivers Use the MID Scalar Function =

Article ID: 135796

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Open Database Connectivity Desktop Database Driver Kit 2.0

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This article was previously published under Q135796



SUMMARY
The ODBC 2.0 Help file, Odbcjet.hlp, incorrectly lists the SUBSTRING scalar function as a supported function of the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers shipped in the Microsoft ODBC Desktop Database Drivers Kit, version 2.0. The MID function replaces the SUBSTRING function and should be listed instead of SUBSTRING as a supported scalar function.



MORE INFORMATION
The ODBC 1.0 drivers shipped in the Microsoft ODBC Fulfillment Kit use the SUBSTRING scalar function to return a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at a position you specify.

The ODBC 2.0 drivers now use the MID function to perform the same function and it uses the same syntax as the SUBSTRING function. The syntax for the MID function is shown below: MID(text,start_num,num_chars) For example, assume we have the text string "Hello World." To return the "World" string, use the following function: MID("Hello World",7,5)

If you try to use the SUBSTRING function with an ODBC 2.0 driver, you may receive the following error message:

Undefined function 'substring' in expression.

