if Your string always contains a * then you can use a simple formula like this.
Left({MyField},Instr({MyField},'*')-1)
if a * is not present in the string then this will fail so you would need to use
NumberVar Position := Instr({MyField},'*')-1;
if position < 0 then
//do something here
else
Left({MyField},Position)
Hope this helps Gary Parker
Systems Support Analyst