Data Reader - Only want to display first 20 characters

[Newbie81]

Hello All,

I have created a table in sql, and want to display a particular row, but only want to display the first 20 characters of it not the full message. How would u do this by using th data reader?

This is what i have done:


Dim cmd As SqlCommand = SqlConnection1.CreateCommand
cmd.Connection = SqlConnection1
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM Forum "
cmd.CommandText &= "WHERE receiver ='" & Session("Email") & "'"


Dim rowNumber As Int16
Response.Write("<BR>")
Response.Write("<b>Your Messages:</b>")
Response.Write("<Table border=1><tr><td>From</td><td>Message</td></tr>")
Dim dr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior.Default)

Do While dr.Read = True

Response.Write("<tr>")

Response.Write("<td>" & dr.Item("Sender") & "</td>")
Response.Write("<td>" & dr.Item("Message") & "</td>")
Response.Write("<td><a href='MessageReceive.aspx?read=" & dr.Item("Message") + "&sender=" & dr.Item("Sender") & "'>Read</a></td></tr>")
'

Loop

I thank you all you experts in advance.

 

[lingsn]

I think got 2 ways

1) To substring the data retrieved.
2) Depends on the type of database you use, some databases may be can use Mid function in the SQL statement to truncate the data retrieve.

 

[Newbie81]

Thank you for the reply. In this case, how would i use the ToSubstring function? Sorry I am a complete beginer.

Thank you very much

 

[lingsn]

Example of substring

[SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]CStr[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2](dr.Item("Message")).Substring(0, 20)
[/SIZE]

 

[cjard]

Hmm.. rather than transferring a megabyte of text from the db and having the client truncate it to 20 characters, i would get the db to do it. In oracle the sql would be like:

SELECT SUBSTR(message, 1, 20) as intro_msg FROM forum


Find out what the syntax is for your database and give it a go

 

[TechGnome]

Left(message, 20) works too...

-tg