LEFT()

Scalar. Returns a specified number of characters from the beginning of a given string.

Syntax

LEFT( string, count )

Parameters
string	The string.
count	The number of characters to return.

Data Types
Return	string	count
String	String	Integer

The following example uses the LEFT function to select the first ten characters of the value in the column StockName:

INSERT INTO OutStream
SELECT LEFT(Trades.StockName,10)
FROM Trades;