ABL string manipulation functions

The functions described in the following table operate on character strings.

Table 1. ABL string manipulation functions
Function Description
FILL Generates a character string made up of a character string that is repeated a specified number of times.
INDEX Returns an INTEGER value that indicates the position of a search string within a source string.
LEFT-TRIM Removes leading white space, or other specified characters, from a CHARACTER or LONGCHAR expression. The data type of the returned value matches the data type of the expression passed to the function.
LENGTH Returns, as an INTEGER value, the number of characters, bytes, or columns in a string, an expression of type RAW, or a BLOB field.
R-INDEX Returns an INTEGER value that indicates the position of the target string within the source string. In contrast to the INDEX function, R-INDEX performs the search from right to left.
REPLACE Returns a string with specified substring replacements. The data type of the returned value matches the data type of the expression passed to the function.
RIGHT-TRIM Removes trailing white space, or other specified characters, from a CHARACTER or LONGCHAR expression. The data type of the returned value matches the data type of the expression passed to the function.
SUBSTRING Extracts a portion of a character string from a field or variable.
TRIM Removes leading and trailing white space, or other specified characters, from a CHARACTER or LONGCHAR expression. The data type of the returned value matches the data type of the expression passed to the function.