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search() Function

Function

search( search_text, within_text, start_num )

Searches the text for the given, case insensitive substring. Returns the one-based positional index of the first character of the first match. Returns zero if the substring is not found.

See also: searchb(), find()

Parameters

Keyword Type Description

search_text

Text

The text that will be searched for.

within_text

Text

The text that will be searched in.

start_num

Number

The index of the first character within the within_text value from which to start searching. 1 by default.

Returns

Number

Usage considerations

Using the search_text parameter

The search_text parameter does not support wildcard characters.

Using the within_text parameter

The first character of the entire within_text value is considered to have an index = 1.

Examples

Searching for a substring within a string

1
search("to", "boston")

Returns 4.

Searching for a substring not contained in a string

1
search("ne", "boston")

Returns 0.

Searching with a start index

1
search("o", "boston", 4)

Returns 5. The function starts searching the string at index 4.

Lists

Searching multiple strings at once

1
search({ "t", "i" }, { "boston", "paris" })

Returns { 4, 4 }.

Searching with multiple start indices

1
search("o", "boston", { 1, 3 })

Returns { 2, 5 }. The search is repeated at each start index in the list.

Edge cases

Empty list parameters

1
search({}, "boston")

Returns {}.

Empty string start_num

1
search("o", "boston", "")

Returns 0. The function always returns 0 when given an empty string start_num.

Feature compatibility

The table below lists this function's compatibility with various features in Appian.
Feature Compatibility Note
Portals Compatible
Offline Mobile Compatible
Sync-Time Custom Record Fields Compatible

Can be used to create a custom record field that only evaluates at sync time.

Real-Time Custom Record Fields Incompatible

Custom record fields that evaluate in real time must be configured using one or more Custom Field functions.

Process Reports Compatible
Process Events Compatible

search() Function

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