This command extracts a string value from the text buffer.
It uses a pair of single quotation marks ('), a pair of double quotation marks ("), a space, a comma, and a comma followed by a space to break the text buffer into columns. Any quotation mark pairs that surround the requested column are removed from the return value.
Syntax
COL_Q column_number
Column_number must be an integer that specifies a column in the text buffer from which to extract data.
A column can be delimited by a pair of single quotation marks ('), a pair of double quotation marks ("), a space, a comma, or a comma followed by a space.
Return value
This command removes any quotation mark pairs that surround the column value and then returns the rest of the column value as a string.
Notes
To return a column value that includes any surrounding pairs of quotation marks, use COL_S.
Examples
COL_Q 1
If the text buffer contains the string 'part number xyz', 1.23, abc def , this formula returns the string part number xyz .
By contrast, the COL_S command returns 'part number xyz' (including the quotation marks).
COL_Q 2
If the text buffer contains the string 'part number xyz', 1.23, abc def , this formula returns the string 1.23 .
COL_Q 3
If the text buffer contains the string 'part number xyz', 1.23, abc def , this formula returns the string abc .
COL_Q 4
If the text buffer contains the string 'part number xyz', 1.23, abc def , this formula returns the string def .