Re: Find number of times a value occurs in a field

I have a field of 31 bytes that can have the value "O" or "W".
I *thought* there was either a BIF or Op-Code that I could use to

find

the number of times a value occured, but can not find it in the

manual.

ie: if the field contained WWWWWOOWWWWWOOWWWWWOOWWWWWOOWWW,
I would like to be able to get the value 23 for the number of times

the

W occurred.

Well, I'm generally opposed to using SQL for non-SQL functions but this
one
is ripe for the taking. :) Besides, if I don't suggest it then
Birgitta or
Luis or Charles will. :)

Exec SQL Set :wCount = length(trim(:field)) -
length(trim(replace(:field,'W',''))) ;

I think that would do it. (Note lack of space between ending
apostrophes on
that replace verb.)

(There is an underlying assumption that embedded blanks will not appear
within. With embedded blanks, the count can be overstated. Perhaps
significantly, as when field = 'W.............................W' (where .
represents a space).

Dennis Lovelady
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dennislovelady
--
"A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we take
the least thought about acquiring."
-- La Rochefoucauld



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