Problems Parsing First Value in Multi Select Column

Julie F

Hello Community

I have a multi select column whereby I'd like to be able to get at the first value in the list, regardless of how many items were selected. However, I can't seem to get the correct syntax to get this to work.

In the column titled "First Value", have the column formula

=MID([Estimated Availability]@row, 1, FIND(CHAR(10), [Estimated Availability]@row))

In the column titled "Char10 Pos Found" I have the column formula

=FIND(CHAR(10), [Estimated Availability]@row, 1)

But notice how instead of parsing out the first value, it's returning the 2nd value in a multi select. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

Paul H

Try this,

=IF(FIND(CHAR(10), [Estimated Availability]@row) > 0, LEFT([Estimated Availability]@row, FIND(CHAR(10), [Estimated Availability]@row, 1) - 1), [Estimated Availability]@row)

Julie F

Hey Paul - thanks so much for the reply. Unfortunately, same result. :I Still returning the 2nd value in the multi select.

Wondering if the spaces or the "+" characters in the multi select values are throwing off the find() function? Other thought I had is maybe certain characters need to be escaped? (not 100% sure if that's the issue, or how to apply escape to the function to even try it.)

Paul H

@Julie F After a few more experiments it seam to always calculate in ascending order regardless of how it displays. I don't think its possible to do what you want

Julie F

Aw... that's a bummer. Thank you for trying to help Paul!