SQLServerCentral / SQL Server 2008 / SQL Server 2008 - General / Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col B / Latest PostsInstantForum.NET v2.9.0SQLServerCentralhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/notifications@sqlservercentral.comSun, 19 May 2013 03:27:33 GMT20RE: Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col Bhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1384959-391-1.aspxThat is a very good tip from Jeff.....Computed Columns are not used a lot....they are even sometimes avoided in the cases they could be used....it may be due to negligence or ignorance.....the following links would give you a very good insight at Computed Columns : [url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191250(v=sql.105).aspx][b]COMPUTED COLUMNS[/b][/url][url=http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2010/08/22/sql-server-computed-columns-index-and-performance/]COMPUTED COLUMNS - Performance[/url]Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:06:20 GMTvinu512RE: Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col Bhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1384959-391-1.aspxThanks for the tip, Jeff. I'll look into computed columns - never used them. Yes always position 1.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:02:01 GMTdbaforeverRE: Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col Bhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1384959-391-1.aspxIf it is always going to the first character of column a, might consider redefining column b as a computed column to save you the pain of ongoing updates, etc. depending on your needs of course.Just a thought.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:59:45 GMTJeffRushRE: Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col Bhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1384959-391-1.aspxAh, I got it.Update Table1Set ColB = (Select Substring(ColA, 1, 1));This worked.Thanks.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:54:01 GMTdbaforeverRE: Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col Bhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1384959-391-1.aspxIs this what you need ? Look up the LEFT function in BOL Books On Line[code="sql"] CREATE TABLE #T(Cola VARCHAR(6),Colb CHAR(1)) INSERT INTO #T(Cola,colb) SELECT 'FGHIJK',LEFT('FGHIJK',1)-- check result SELECT Cola,colb FROM #TResult:Cola colbFGHIJK F[/code]Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:52:40 GMTbitbucket-25253Get Left-most Char of Col A to insert into Col Bhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1384959-391-1.aspxHi experts,For example: Col A Varchar(6) contains FGHIJK Col B char(1)I need to insert the first character - F in this case, into Column BI need update a column in all rows by retrieving the left-most character of Col A and insert that value into Column BHow can this be done without getting the "would be truncated" error?Thanks, BillWed, 14 Nov 2012 20:32:33 GMTdbaforever