ATCLINE( ) Function

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Returns the line number of the first occurrence of a character expression or memo field within another character expression or memo field, without regard for the case (upper or lower) of the characters in either expression.

ATCLINE(cSearchExpression, cExpressionSearched)

Return Values

Numeric

Parameters

  • cSearchExpression
    Specifies the character expression that ATCLINE( ) searches for in cExpressionSearched.

  • cExpressionSearched
    Specifies the character expression cSearchExpression searches for.

    Both cSearchExpression and cExpressionSearched can be memo fields of any size. Use MLINE( ) to return the line containing the matching character expression.

    Tip   ATCLINE( ) offers a convenient way to search memo fields.

Remarks

If the search is successful, ATCLINE( ) returns the number of the line containing the first character expression. If the search is unsuccessful, ATCLINE( ) returns 0.

The line number that ATCLINE( ) returns is determined by the value of SET MEMOWIDTH, even if cExpressionSearched isn't a memo field. For more information, see SET MEMOWIDTH.

Use ATLINE( ) to perform a case-sensitive search.

Example

Example 1 locates the first time a character string occurs in a memo field, displays the first and last names of the employee, and the line of the memo containing the character string.

Example 2 demonstrates how the memo width affects ATCLINE( ).

* Example 1
CLOSE DATABASES
OPEN DATABASE (HOME(2) + 'Data\testdata')
USE employee  && Open employee table

CLEAR
STORE 'JAPANESE' TO gcFindString  && Case insensitive
LOCATE FOR ATCLINE(gcFindString, notes) != 0
? First_Name
?? Last_Name
? MLINE(notes, ATCLINE(gcFindString, notes))

* Example 2
STORE '1234567890ABCDEFGHIJ' TO gcString
SET MEMOWIDTH TO 20
? ATCLINE('AB', gcString)  && Displays 1
SET MEMOWIDTH TO 10
? ATCLINE('AB', gcString)  && Displays 2

See Also

AT( ) | AT_C( ) | ATC( ) | ATCC( ) Function | ATLINE( ) | LEFT( ) | RAT( ) | RATLINE( ) | RIGHT( ) | SUBSTR( ) | LEFTC( ) | RIGHTC( ) | SUBSTRC( ) | MLINE( ) | SET MEMOWIDTH