RE: http://www.postgresql.org/idocs/index.php?functions-string.html In Table 4-6. SQL String Functions and Operators FUNCTION RETURN TYPE DESC ... substring( text extract string substring [from integer] [for integer]) EXAMPLE RESULT substring('Thomas' oma from 2 for 3) ... The result should be 'hom' instead of 'oma': 1 2 3 4 5 6 T h o m a s from 1 2 ^-------^ for 1 2 3 ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 6: Have you searched our list archives? http://www.postgresql.org/search.mpl