[SOLVED] MYSQL Query Help

[d_barszczak]

Hi all

 

I have a column `idnumber` that contains data such as SCH-DEP-001 and i want to run a distinct query on this column for everything before the last dash.

 

SCH-DEP-

SCH-DEP2-

 

Not all the middle values are 3 digits.

 

Is this possible?

[Barand]

Is last section always 3 digits?

 

if so:

 

SELECT DISTINCT LEFT(idnumber, LENGTH(idnumber)-4) as id
FROM tablename

 

if not (or even if it is)

SELECT DISTINCT SUBSTRING_INDEX(idnumber, '-', 2) as id
FROM tablename

[d_barszczak]

Excellent thanks. I wasn't far off but that really helped.